Forschungsverbund - Nahtlose und ergonomische Integration der Robotik in den klinischen Arbeitsablauf
The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) into the clinical workflow leads to a considerable increase in technical, social and organizational complexity in the operating theatre and its adjacent areas. Even with the latest models, the preparation and installation of the systems leads to significant delays that limit the use of RAS, especially for short procedures. The positioning of the robotic system or the individual modules on the human has a significant influence on its subsequent performance and must take into account the patient's anatomy and the system's workspace.
The process-oriented integration of RAS is currently the biggest deficit here, as it doesn’t exist. Traditional workflows and processes have not yet been adapted to the use of RAS, or only at the expense of the OR staff and process efficiency. Therefore, they require a comprehensive revision and adaptation to the new technology. Particular challenges arise for the integration of the RAS into the surgical workflow. The efficient and ergonomic placement of the robotic system in the operating room and configuration at the patient is crucial for the further course of the surgery. Changing requirements for individual phases of the intervention (robotic, hybrid, conventional) pose a challenge for RAS. Lastly the efficient display and presentation of the relevant information for the OR team and the interaction between RAS, the operator, the supporting OR staff and the patient is crucial for a successful integration.
As studies show, the lack of integration leads to an increased risk of surgical errors and thus to an avoidable risk for patients. In addition, it can lead to a considerable increase in operating and process times and thus to a significant increase in treatment costs compared to conventional surgical methods.
Despite their numerous potential advantages, it is for these reasons that robotic applications in medical intervention and imaging are currently limited to only a few and above all complex cases and are not used at all in some areas.
In the research network ForNeRo funded by the BFS, the research focus is set to specifically address the current deficits of RAS:
- Digital planning of robot placement in the operating room to enable the most efficient workspace possible for the OR staff
- Improved utilization of the workspace of robotic systems while avoiding system-system interactions (e.g. collisions)
- Full integration of robotic systems into existing workflows with expansion of the range of indications through the use of modular approaches
- Optimal placement and use of robots in the operating room by incorporating ergonomics and AR approaches
- Flexible, user-centered design of robot assistance that is more tailored to the user's needs
- Detection of critical cognitive stress, physical strain and workload in the operating room
- Ensuring better explainability for data-based (often autonomous) processes
