Surgical Robotics, The Biorobotics Institute coordinates the OPERATION 2.0 project to develop a sensorized physical simulator for training robotic surgeons. Realistic interactions between instruments and tissues to guide surgeons' movements
The objective of the OPERATION 2.0 project is to develop and validate a high-fidelity sensorized physical simulator to train robotic surgeons, with realistic interactions between instruments and tissues to orient and refine their movements during surgical procedures. Coordinated by The BioRobotics Institute of Sant'Anna School, in collaboration with the University of Pisa and the Centro di Chirurgia Robotica dell'Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana and funded by the company Intuitive Surgical, the project paves the way for a new general methodology of physical simulators, able to reproduce with the highest precision the tissues of the human body to train and educate surgeons involved in robotic surgery. The project is conducted by the research area coordinated by Prof. Arianna Menciassi (The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Sant'Anna) and will have the clinical support of the robotic surgery group led by Prof. Franca Melfi (University of Pisa and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana): a collaboration that certifies the leading international role of the Pisa research institutions in the field of surgical robotics.
"The bioengineering and physical simulation skills of our group - comments Arianna Menciassi - combined with the clinical experience of Prof. Melfi, will allow the development of a low cost and versatile training system. Intuitive Surgical considered this project of extreme value to improve the quality of training. The system will be tested during training courses for surgeons".
"This is the result of a long collaboration between the Center for Robotic Surgery and The Biorobotics Institute. The development of the physical simulator will be very useful for the training of surgeons who intend to start a robotic surgery program" explains Franca Melfi.
SYSTEM FOR THE TRAINING OF THORACIC ROBOTIC SURGEONS
OPERATION 2.0 (an acronym for A Sensorized Physical Simulator for Mastering Robot-Tissue Interaction) will focus on robotic thoracic surgery. The sensorized physical simulator will be an innovative system for training robotic thoracic surgeons, with the goal of helping them to moderate tension on fragile tissues, such as venous tissues, and prevent the main complication during this type of procedure, namely intra-operative bleeding. In fact, the simulator will reproduce realistic interactions between instruments and tissues, orienting and refining the surgeon's movements. Thanks to sensing, the platform will also provide real-time feedback for the correction of errors made and to record the metrics performed during the simulation.
PISA REFERENCE CENTER FOR SURGICAL ROBOTICS
The OPERATION 2.0 project is part of a scientific and clinical synergy that has strengthened the role of Pisa's research institutions in the field of surgical robotics. The collaboration betweenThe BioRobotics Institute, the University of Pisa and the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana has allowed the development of a series of cutting-edge projects to support the ever-increasing importance of surgical robotics in the healthcare field.
