ViSE Seminar Series: Robotic Transurethral Prostatectomy. SC 5326, Tuesday April 30, 11:50. Lunch provided.
ViSE Seminar Series: Robotic Transurethral Prostatectomy
Tuesday April 30, 2013
Location: Stevenson Center 5326; Time: 11:50 (lunch), noon (seminar start)
Speakers:
Duke Herrell, MD; Urology
Robert Webster, PhD; Mechanical Engineering
Abstract:
The overarching objective of our research is a teleoperated robotic system capable of removing the entire prostate (radical prostatectomy) via the urethra. Our proposed system consists of several needle-diameter, tentacle-like robotic arms that are deployed through a standard cystourethroscope, and are able to deliver a camera, grippers, and a fiber laser into the surgical field through a natural orifice. This research is strongly motivated by (1) the high incidence of prostate cancer surgery (240,000 cases per year), (2) the potential to avoid incisions and thus reduce invasiveness, (3) the potential to reduce complications (e.g. impotence and incontinence) by avoiding cutting and traction on the vital neural and muscle structures in favor of targeted laser dissection, and (4) the fact that prostate cancer surgery has driven the market for robotic surgery to date, illustrating that if one can demonstrate even small improvements with respect to the standard of care (though of course we anticipate large improvements), there will be overwhelming demand by patients, speeding clinical adoption.