The application of robotic technology has achieved a significant impact in different fields of medicine and recently, also in surgery. The aim of robotic technology is to assist the surgeon during manipulations where the human hand has encountered it’s limitations and to allow acts that cannot be done by hand, reach places that the surgeon cannot access, or visualize. Additional benefits of robotics are the increased safety and accuracy, the repeatability, and consistency.
Several research groups worldwide have explored the possibility of implementing robotics in the field of ear surgery. These endeavors appeared to be quite challenging due to the combination of the complex handling, the intricate anatomical structures, and in particular the extremely small dimensions, pushing precision and technology to their limits.
Currently, we are at the edge of clinical applications and the first series of patients participated in clinical surgical experiments. The feasibility of robot-assisted ear surgery has boosted and continues to boost innovations in different fields including cochlear anatomy, electrophysiology, imaging, passive and active hearing implants, cochlear implants, and endoscopy. These advances form the ideal environment for disruptive innovations in therapeutic interventions, that until recently were deemed impossible.
At the same time, the surgeon and the surgical team face challenges in acquiring new skills, carrying new responsibilities, and present ethical considerations towards patients.
This Research Topic on RAES encompasses this broad emerging field of robotic-assisted ear surgery and the surrounding field of diagnostics, technology, basic science, and early clinical results. Hence we invite all researchers, surgeons, clinicians, scientists, and engineers to contribute to this Research Topic.
The application of robotic technology has achieved a significant impact in different fields of medicine and recently, also in surgery. The aim of robotic technology is to assist the surgeon during manipulations where the human hand has encountered it’s limitations and to allow acts that cannot be done by hand, reach places that the surgeon cannot access, or visualize. Additional benefits of robotics are the increased safety and accuracy, the repeatability, and consistency.
Several research groups worldwide have explored the possibility of implementing robotics in the field of ear surgery. These endeavors appeared to be quite challenging due to the combination of the complex handling, the intricate anatomical structures, and in particular the extremely small dimensions, pushing precision and technology to their limits.
Currently, we are at the edge of clinical applications and the first series of patients participated in clinical surgical experiments. The feasibility of robot-assisted ear surgery has boosted and continues to boost innovations in different fields including cochlear anatomy, electrophysiology, imaging, passive and active hearing implants, cochlear implants, and endoscopy. These advances form the ideal environment for disruptive innovations in therapeutic interventions, that until recently were deemed impossible.
At the same time, the surgeon and the surgical team face challenges in acquiring new skills, carrying new responsibilities, and present ethical considerations towards patients.
This Research Topic on RAES encompasses this broad emerging field of robotic-assisted ear surgery and the surrounding field of diagnostics, technology, basic science, and early clinical results. Hence we invite all researchers, surgeons, clinicians, scientists, and engineers to contribute to this Research Topic.
