International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, 6 (4), pp. 489–500, 2010
Abstract
Background
Cutting bony tissue using short-pulsed laser ablation enables contact-free processing in arbitrary shapes and with considerably smaller incision widths compared with mechanical tools. This precise method necessitates assistance by robotic surgery.
Methods
Using a prototype system for robot assisted laser bone ablation, the complete workflow was evaluated. Planning of cutting incisions was performed based on CT datasets of an ex vivo bone of a pig. After registration the preplanned cutting was executed autonomously by the robot assisted laser ablation system.
Results
Evaluation of post-operative measurements revealed an overall positioning accuracy of less than 0.5 mm.
