Background Robotic scope assistant systems are used to visualise and navigate the operative field during a laparoscopic surgery. The objective of this work is to design a surgical scope adapter that enables control of different scope types (zero‐degree, angulated, and articulated), and can be connected to any six degree‐of‐freedom robotic manipulator for usage as a robotic scope assistant system. Methods A surgical scope adapter compatible with different camera heads and scope types was designed and prototyped. The technical performance of the scope adapter was evaluated and a user study was conducted to assess the human‐in‐the‐loop control. Results All the subjects were able to navigate the simulated operative field. The scope adapter permits continuous motion to explore the operative field as well as intermittent motion to accurately focus on the targeted anatomical landmarks. Conclusion The modular and generic nature of the surgical scope adapter may enable its usage across different minimally invasive surgeries.

Background An articulated laparoscope comprises a rigid shaft with an articulated distal end to change the viewing direction. The articulation provides improved navigation of the operating field in confined spaces. Furthermore, incorporation of an actuation system tends to enhance the control of an articulated laparoscope. Methods A preliminary prototype of a scope actuation system to maneuver an off-the-shelf articulated laparoscope (EndoCAMaleon by Karl Storz, Germany) was developed. A user study was conducted to evaluate this prototype for the surgical paradigm of video-assisted thoracic surgery. In the study, the subjects maneuvered an articulated scope under two modes of operation: (a) actuated mode where an operating surgeon maneuvers the scope using the developed prototype and (b) manual mode where a surgical assistant directly maneuvers the scope. The actuated mode was further assessed for multiple configurations based on the orientation of the articulated scope at the incision. Results The data show the actuated mode scored better than the manual mode on all the measured performance parameters including (a) total duration to visualize a marked region, (a) duration for which scope focus shifts outside a predefined visualization region, and (c) number of times for which scope focus shifts outside a predefined visualization region. Among the different configurations tested using the actuated mode, no significant difference was observed. Conclusions The proposed articulated scope actuation system facilitates better navigation of an operative field as compared to a human assistant. Secondly, irrespective of the orientation in which an articulated scope’s shaft is inserted through an incision, the proposed actuation system can navigate and visualize the operative field.

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