How advanced drive systems could revolutionise surgical robots
What if the future of neurosurgery isn’t just in the hands of surgeons? In the near future, surgical robots may hold the power to transform the field, making it faster, safer and more precise than ever before. Here, Dave Walsha, sales and marketing director at drive system supplier EMS, investigates the role of advanced motor design in developing tomorrow’s neurosurgical robots.
Surgical robots have already been embraced by other medical specialties, most notably general surgery. Appendectomies, colectomies and hysterectomies are some of the most common surgeries assisted by robotic systems. In these procedures and many others, surgical robots facilitate a minimally invasive approach that results in quicker recovery time, lower complication rates and minimised scarring.
These procedures require extreme precision and control to carefully manoeuvre in confined spaces. And the performance requirements for more intricate procedures typically performed in neurosurgery — such as craniotomies and aneurysm clippings — are even higher.
Robotic systems are used in some neurosurgeries, though under close human control. One example is stereotactic robots, which use imaging to direct the positioning of surgical instruments in the brain and help surgeons to access challenging areas with smaller incisions. With the aid of stereotactic robots, some brain biopsies and treatments are less invasive, reducing trauma to the surrounding tissues and decreasing patient recovery time.
However, in many neurosurgeries today, surgical robots either play an assistive or non-existent role. So, what capabilities do surgical robots need in order to be adopted by the neurosurgeons of tomorrow?
Sub-millimetre precision
Precision is paramount in any operating theatre but nowhere more so than in neurosurgery. Even the slightest deviation could damage surrounding healthy tissue and result in severe consequences such as impaired movement, sensory loss and cognitive deficits.
Let’s look at surgical robot arms as an example. These can be used to hold tools steady in position or to perform actions otherwise performed by the surgeon, such as cutting or suturing. The drive system of a robot arm needs to transmit exact, controlled motion to the robot joints, then to the grippers or other end effectors without any overshoot. Additionally, even when the robot arms are static, they need to continuously provide high torque, or holding torque, to retain absolute stability.
Brushless drives with integrated gears and encoders offer a promising solution to these challenging performance requirements. These drives provide precise, stable control thanks to high-resolution encoders that enable sub-millimetre positioning, critical for navigating sensitive brain structures. The addition of gears enhances torque output, ensuring steady holding force even at a standstill, while brushless technology contributes to smooth, reliable operation without wear-induced inconsistencies. Advanced motor design with these integrated technologies will be key to creating surgical robots capable of meeting the unique demands of neurosurgery.
Sense of touch
Another priority will be enabling reliable haptic feedback — the sense of touch — as this is critical for accurate force application. The human capability for tactile sensation allows surgeons to feel subtle changes in tissue resistance, allowing them to distinguish between healthy and abnormal tissue, sense boundaries and detect potential obstructions or blood vessels.
However, many current robotic systems lack the haptic feedback necessary to gauge the pressure and sensitivity needed for different actions. Those that do exist are in a developmental stage and are not yet widely available in practice. So, what will it take to integrate haptic feedback into surgical robots?
The drive system plays a core role in effectively delivering haptic feedback to the surgeon. Here, FAULHABER’s precise and compact micromotors could make a transformative difference. With responsive control, smooth torque and 4-quadrant operation, these cogging-free motors enable realistic feedback that helps the surgeon gauge the pressure to apply. The compact, high-power design of FAULHABER motors also allows for exceptionally precise drives without sacrificing size or manoeuvrability. In the delicate field of neurosurgery, this could open up the potential for more minimally invasive procedures that require sensitive, reliable feedback.
Rapid adaptability
The next leap for surgical robotics is autonomy. While current robotic systems primarily serve as highly controlled tools under a surgeon’s command, future systems could incorporate AI-driven autonomy to handle specific tasks. Imagine a robot that could autonomously retract tissue, manage sutures or stabilise its own position in real time. In the fast-paced, delicate field of neurosurgery, this level of responsiveness and dynamic adaptation would be revolutionary, reducing workloads and improving patient outcomes with faster, safer surgeries.
Today, this might seem like something out of science fiction but the explosion of AI research and development in the last decade alone suggests it could be a reality for the neurosurgeons of tomorrow. Enhanced by machine learning, real-time data processing and advanced drives, the future of neurosurgery knows no bounds.
EMS is the exclusive distributor of FAULHABER motors and drives in the UK. To learn more about the motor solutions available for demanding robotics applications, contact a member of the team today.
