From Concept to Market

Abstract

Surgical robotics and supporting technologies have really become a prime example of modern applied information technology infiltrating our everyday lives. The development of these systems spans across four decades, and only the last few years brought the market value and saw the rising customer base imagined already by the early developers. This chapter guides the reader through the historical development of the most important systems and provides references and lessons learnt for current engineers facing similar challenges. A special emphasis is put on system validation, assessment, and clearance, as the most commonly cited barrier hindering the wider deployment of a system.

A Novel Robotic Neuronavigation System: RONNA G3

“…One benefit of implementing industrial robots is that the research and development of the robotic arm have been done by the robot manufacturer, contributing to a lower overall system price. Regarding strict medical regulations and standards, which are indicated in [12], one alternative to standard industrial robots is robot manipulators certified as medical devices. An example of that alternative is the newly developed Kuka LBR Med medical lightweight robot (KUKA, Augsburg, Germany).…”