Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the examination of algorithms that enable machines or systems to reason and carry out intellectual functions, such as pattern recognition and problem-solving functions (Hashimoto et al., 2018). Over the past decade, there have been various developments in the medical field, one of which is the application of artificial intelligence for medical procedures. Furthermore, AI has been a significant technological innovation that supports medical clinical decision-making processes. Though its application is still in its early stages, it has been successfully applied imaging and diagnosis, precision medicine, and genomics in both pre-surgery and intra-surgery procedures (Tsui, 2020).
Supervised algorithms such as atlas-based learning approach have been developed to enhance surgical procedures such as minimally invasive operations. Also, in a study on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, Krizhevsky et al. (2012) suggested the application of ImageNet, which is a major neural network, for surgical procedures. The researchers emphasise that such deep leaning algorithms can support surgical procedures and improve visibility during surgical operations. Additionally, deep leaning methods like the Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN), whereby several convolutional layers are programmed, have facilitated the use of robotically learned information-driven descriptors to be used for pre-operative procedures such as imaging examination (Zhou et al., 2019). This paper highlights the benefits of implementing AI technology into medical procedures, particularly robot-assisted surgeries, and highlights certain features of such implementation,
2. An Overview of Robotics in Medicine
During robotic-assisted surgeries, the clinical devices are not handled by the surgeon; rather, robotic machines direct these devices. The robotic machines have various motors and sensors implemented into them, which enhance surgeons’ capabilities when rotating and moving around during minimally invasive procedures. By offering simulated tactile movements, robots improve doctor’s deftness and eye-hand management, which improves surgical outcomes. One of the earliest surgical robots is the da Vinci SP robot, which serves as a console during telesurgeries (Tonutti et al., 2016). This system has been widely used for minimally invasive surgeries and various other surgeries, including abdominal and heart surgeries. It has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Tonutti et al., 2016).
The da Vinci system has a master console that has various controllers. It also comprises of the slave console with four robotic hands and 3D camera. Doctors manage the slave console and the robotic hands during surgical procedures. The hands could have other tailored devices implemented on them, such as articulated actuators that can be used to move endoscopes or other similar devices during operations. This improves the outcomes of robotic minimally invasive surgeries like prostatectomy (Marcus et al., 2014). A similar robotic system is known as the i-Snake surgical robot, which enables hand motions with eight degrees of freedom because it has four articulating joints. Various cameras, devices, and imaging fibres can be transmitted through its tubular body, while the system remains flexible and can be controlled by a surgeon (Tonutti et al., 2016). The applications of these kinds of robots during surgical procedures are further discussed in the next section.
3. Applications of AI for Robot-Assisted Surgical Procedures
3.1 Telesurgery
Telesurgery utilises robotic and wireless networking technologies and enables doctors to conduct remote surgeries on their patients. The first telesurgery was conducted in 2001 with the use of a robotic device known as ZEUS, which was successfully used to conduct a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in France (Xu et al., 2015). The use of robots for telesurgery has aided in resolving issues related to scarcity of surgeons, physical remoteness of urgent and valuable surgical care, substantial financial challenges, and required lengthy-distance travel (Choi et al., 2018). Also, according to Choi et al. (2018), this technology is beneficial to both patients and surgeons, as it improves technical precision during surgical procedures.
Though still in its early stages of development, tele-neurosurgical robot-assisted has been applied in surgical procedures. In a study on robotic skull base surgery, O’Malley and Weinstein (2007) performed a skull base surgical procedure with the use of a trans-oral method. Similarly, Wirz et al. (2015) discussed the trans-sphenoidal surgery on a hypophysis tumour, and the physicians stated that the use of the robotic system was ide
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