Robotic systems for surgical applications
Robot assisted surgery is a fast growing, yet relatively new market. Although the first reported use of robot assisted surgery was in 1985, it was only in 2000 that the FDA approved the first system – Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci. The da Vinci system was designed to use a minimally invasive approach and carry out a variety of procedures such as hysterectomies and prostate removals.
More recently, the market has expanded with the entry of new players and new application areas. The scope of robot assisted surgery currently includes, but is not limited to: general surgery, colorectal surgery, gynaecologic surgery, heart surgery, endometriosis, head & neck (transoral) surgery, thoracic surgery, urologic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, spinal surgery, dentistry & orthodontics, hair transplant and radiation therapy.
