Development of a master slave combined manipulator for laparoscopic surgery functional model and its evaluation

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery helps patients by accelerating postoperative recovery. However, its application is impeded because it is necessary for the surgeons performing such surgery to possess surgical skills of a high order. Thus, for laparoscopic surgery, a master slave combined manipulator (MCM) has been proposed that enhances the surgeon’s skill. The master grip and the slave hand with wrist joints are combined through the manipulator body, and a surgeon can perform the operation near to the patient. The slave hand is controlled by the master grip electrically and its position is directly controlled by the surgeon. The prototype model of the MCM has been developed and the function of the MCM has been verified by basic evaluation tests, and the MCM has been applied in an animal experiment. This paper describes the basic performance of the MCM.