As the complexity and intricacies of surgical procedures continue to increase, so too do the demands that are placed on the tools and the techniques that a surgeon employs to get the job done. One of the most advanced technologies in some of today’s toolkits is the robot. Indeed, robotic-assisted surgery has gained a lot of press in recent years – and not all of it positive. But, any negative perceptions of the value of robotic-assisted surgery are not dampening the appetite for research and innovation in this ever-expanding area, and one recent study has demonstrated its value in assisting soft tissue surgery (1).

The research team at the Children’s National Health System in Washington DC, used its biocompatible, 3D tracking software to guide soft tissue surgery with precision. What makes this system special? The researchers note that current robust tracking methods are utilized in surgeries of rigid tissues – such as bone – but soft tissue surgery hasn’t yet received any similarly effective tracking aids due to its malleable nature.

The investigators’ system has already previously shown its mechanized capabilities, operating in tools such as the STAR – an autonomous surgical robot that we’ve previously highlighted as Image of the Month (2) – but the researchers’ recent publication highlights its possible effectiveness and accuracy in assisted robotics.

Using near-infrared fluorescence markers applied to the tissue surface, and two specialized cameras, the software has been shown to track surgical tools and targets in 3D with no marker loss and near millimeter accuracy – even when blood and tissue obscure the surgical site.

Although the system’s limitations mean that robust tracking is only possible in tissue of around 1.3 mm thickness and limited to speeds of 1 mm/s, the team believes that with more iterative work, their findings could have wider implications for real-time tracking of deformable targets in surgical environments. But only time will tell if the rise of the surgical assistant machines will make a mark and become robust enough to use clinically in soft tissue operations.