Update on New Robotic Devices for Endourology
摘要
Purpose: Robot-assisted surgical techniques are on the rise. Despite drawbacks after the first utilization of a robotic device in endourology in 1996, there has been a steady increase of robotic systems developed and tested for clinical use in endourological procedures. The following section reviews the evolution of various endourologic robotic systems and the current state of the art and their clinical application. Material and Methods: Internet-based, systematic literature research using the terms: robotic endourology, robotic ureteroscopy, Probot, PAKI robotic kidney puncture, aquaablation prostate, KUKA Leipzig, and Virtuoso endoscopy system has been performed using MEDLINE, PUBMED, and allied medical databases. Results: A variety of robotic devices used in different fields of endourology were identified. A trend toward robotization was detected in almost all endourological procedures. During the evolution process, the majority of robots invented were tested and abandoned after short-term clinical use. Two robotic systems made it into current clinical routine. The latest generation of promising robotic devices was developed utilizing technology of allied fields. Robotic endourology today represents a rapidly growing field that combines conventional surgical techniques with the latest technology and materials available, to simplify complex surgical tasks.