ABSTRACT
Microsurgical procedures require surgeons to work at the limits of human dexterity and perception. A microsurgical procedure can generally be defined as any surgical technique which requires the surgeon to perform actions or observe structures at the micrometer level (i.e., less than 1 mm). Microsurgery often makes use of an operating microscope, as well as a variety of other specialized instrumentation allowing increased perception and dexterity, which requires years of training and experience to master the techniques needed for safe and effective surgery and telesurgery in remote applications. Subsequently, the field is ideally suited for the use of assistive technologies such as computer assistance or image guidance. In general, image guidance may allow improved surgeon confidence, spatial orientation, and anatomical understanding. Some microsurgery systems such as da Vinci and Raven mimic the motions of the user, allowing motion scaling, remote center compensation, and tremor reduction in remote applications, as will be discussed in this chapter.
