Surgicalrobotics: alook into the future

At a recent IET hosted event – part of UK Robotics Week – Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, director of The Hamlyn Centre at Imperial College London, and chair of the The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Centre (EPSRC) funded UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems Network (UK-RAS Network), explained that the development of surgical robots for minimally invasive surgery and microsurgery is currently a key area for medical robotics.

The Hamlyn Centre was established to help develop innovative, safe, effective and accessible healthcare technologies. It focuses on technological innovation with a strong emphasis on clinical translation to ensure direct patient benefits. Current research being undertaken at the Centre is addressing global health challenges through the use of imaging, sensing and robotics. It has an active role in international collaboration and outreach activities, as well as in the training of surgeons and engineers in robotic technologies, to ensure that any healthcare developments facilitate a fully-integrated clinical approach. 

Surgical robotics is entering a period of major innovation and development. Technology advances are offering improved safety, efficacy and reduced costs and it is expected that robotic platforms will soon reach a tipping point, moving the technology into mainstream surgical practice. “We believe that robotics will drive the future of precision surgery,” said Prof Yang. “There will be a greater focus on early intervention and quality of life of the patient after treatment.”