Robot-assisted surgery

Computer-enhanced surgical systems are becoming common worldwide. Currently, 331 da Vinci surgical systems have been installed. Robotic surgery was successfully performed on more than 20,000 patients in 2004. Intuitive Surgical has received FDA clearance for laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures, including hysterectomy or prostatectomy, as well as cardiac revascularization. The Japanese "Future Project" team has developed a prototype of a smaller surgical robotic system and successfully performed telesurgery on animals between Tokyo and Fujinomiya on August 8, 2002, and between Fukuoka and Seoul on March 2, 2005. Robotic surgery will lead to dramatic progress in medicine with the development of surgical navigation systems, simulation systems, and telementoring systems.