Robotic Surgery Technology

A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University is trying to determine a way in which to provide doctors with a 'sense of touch' while using robotic tools during surgery. Using robots allows surgeons to perform their task with great precision; however they lose their dexterity and haptic (touch) information. Thus, to help prevent these important losses, the researchers are experimenting with several options. One option is attaching force sensors which indicate the amount of force being applied during surgery. The other option being explored consists of mathematically modeling moves made by the robotic tools which would send haptic feedback to the user. While these techniques are being developed, an interim process has been created that sends the touch information to the eyes through the computer based on color schemes of the tools' path. Once the haptic information is incorporated successfully into robotic surgical tools, doctors might have more successful surgeries.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061128121916.htm