ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of how different types of robot are applied to various aspects of minimally invasive surgery and, where applicable, provides results of trials on humans or animals. Robots have many advantages in the medical field. Robots are generally composed of several movable components. A geometrical model of a robot treats each limb as an infinitely rigid member joined by perfect joints. Actuators are the devices used to move the limbs of robots. Actuators are controlled by the brain of the robot or by a human operator. Robots are equipped with numerous sensors that give them information about their position with respect to their base to environmental landmarks. R. H. Taylor gives five areas in which traditional surgical techniques have reached a point of diminishing returns and can be augmented by robotics: planning and feedback, precision, access and dexterity, accuracy, and specialization and access to care.
