Acrobat Robot Assists Surgeons

Research by London's Imperial College shows that the use of robots in knee surgery considerably improves accuracy.

The robot being tested was Acrobat which helps surgeons to line up replacement parts with existing bones. The study found that although operations using Acrobat took a few minutes longer the replacement parts were lined up considerably better.

Professor Justin Cobb, who led the research, said:

"These robots are designed to hold the surgeon's hand in the operating theatre, not take over the operation. This study shows they can be an enormous help, preventing surgeons from making mistakes. More importantly, by showing how the increased accuracy makes a difference to how well a knee works after surgery, we will be able to develop a new generation of less invasive procedures without the risks of error, providing faster recovery and better functional outcomes for patients."

The study was funded by The Acrobot Co. Ltd. a spin out of Imperial College London.

Full press Release here