Robotic execution of a surgical plan

The ROBODOC Surgical Assistant was developed to eliminate some common problems associated with total hip replacement surgery: improper fit and placement of the prosthetic implant due to imprecise preparation of the femoral canal. The system combines two separate technologies: CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) for preoperative planning and robotics for surgical preparation of a cavity in the femur. The ROBODOC's preoperative planning system blends 3-D imaging technology with a user interface designed for novice computer users. In the operating room, the robot executes the surgeon's plan for femoral canal preparation, replacing mallet-driven broaches and other hand-held tools. The most outstanding feature of the integrated system is the tight link between preoperative planning and surgical execution: no longer will surgeons rely on hand-eye coordination and surgical 'feel' to execute a plan that consists of a 2-D blueprint for a complex operation.<>