Image-Guided Mastoidectomy with a Cooperatively Controlled ENT Microsurgery Robot

Mastoidectomy is a common surgical procedure within otology. Despite being inherently well suited for implementation of robotic assistance, there are no commercially available robotic systems that have demonstrated utility in aiding with this procedure. This article describes a robotic technique for image-guided mastoidectomy with an experimental cooperatively controlled robotic system developed for use within otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. It has the ability to facilitate enhanced operative precision with dampening of tremor in simulated surgical tasks. Its kinematic design is such that the location of the attached surgical instrument is known with a high degree of fidelity at all times. This facilitates image registration and subsequent definition of virtual fixtures, which demarcate surgical workspace boundaries and prevent motion into undesired areas. In this preliminary feasibility study, we demonstrate the clinical utility of this system to facilitate performance of a cortical mastoidectomy by a novice surgeon in 5 identical temporal bone models with a mean time of 221 ± 35 seconds.