Russian surgical robot prototypes

The Russian KATZ center from Kazan has been working on robot surgery tool for over 4 year. Their system was recently introduced to the press.

"The newest development of PJSC "KATZ" is the modular components for the assisting mechatronic surgical complex. This complex will be used in carrying out laparoscopic robot surgery on organs inside the abdominal and pelvic cavities. PJSC "Kazan Electrotechnical Plant" presented last year its modular components for the assisting mechatronic surgical complex "3.1-Robot" to the high guests of the exhibition, the production of which will be carried out within the framework of the Federal Target Program "Development of the pharmaceutical and medical industry of the Russian Federation for the period until 2020 and beyond. 

The design and technology are protected by patent. The instruments passed toxicological and fitting tests. They have improved characteristics and functionality in comparison with foreign analogs, and also 3-4 times cheaper than imported instruments. The purpose of the work of PJSC "KATZ" is the development of technology and the organization of serial production of modular components for the assisting mechatronic surgical complex (AMKhK)." The pool of current tools includes:

• Scissors (straight and curved)
• Clamps (long, wide, for atraumatic cutting, with atraumatic teeth)
• Large Needle Holder
• Micro Needle Holder
• Clip-applicator

Other robots emerging:

Since 2011, the engineers at the Institute of Design and Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKTI) have been working on a smaller scale, flexible master-slave robot. "The result is a compact device, weighing only 5-7 kg with a size of 40 cm. It is placed in a small suitcase, and it can be installed on almost any table. For manipulator operation, a special tool has been developed, which uses the technology of flexible "snake". It allows you to rotate the working part of the tool as much as 180 degrees. The surgeon controls the robot with the help of a controller (a very movable handle, or simply a joystick having six degrees of freedom) and an interface - it transmits to the monitor a 3D image of the operated organ in the 3D system. On request, in addition to the monitor, surgeons can also use glasses or a helmet 3D - to whom that is more convenient. The operation is followed by a video camera with a tenfold increase, installed where the surgical instrument works. So the doctor receives a three-dimensional picture of the operating field."

 Source: KETZ center, IKTI