Due to the very dense organization of the nervous and vascular systems, successful spine surgery is very difficult and depends on many factors (see SPINE application). The robotic system SPINE provides new technology designed to overcome some of these difficulties and assist surgeons to perform spine surgery.
The SPINE robotic system being developed by KB Medical consists of a compact robot positioned using a holding structure, an optical tracking system, a surgical input device, as well as specialized software that guides the surgeon through the various stages of the surgery.
The surgery is planned pre-operatively with the surgeon defining the desired position of the implants using CT images. In the operating room he is guided by the SPINE robotic system to accurately execute the planning. This is achieved by robotic guidance of the standard surgical tools. Our philosophy is not about replacing the surgeon but rather to provide him with reliable instruments and techniques to successfully perform his surgery.
The SPINE robotic has been extensively tested in cadaver experiments by experienced surgeon, showing excellent results down to sub-millimetre accuracy. With further tests and clinical investigations we will be able to prove that it is significantly more precise than manual procedures.
Other major advantages of the SPINE system are: Decreased exposure to X-rays both for patients and clinical staff due to the higher reliability of the system (much less intra-operative verification images have to be taken). Operating tools are held by the robot, which improves comfort and decreases fatigue. Robotic assistance will become a break-through technology by simplifying percutaneous (through the skin) surgery allowing significantly lower patient trauma and duration of surgery.
Use of our robotic SPINE system will decrease health-care costs as a result of fewer returning patients and significantly shorter surgical training.
