Robots detect tumour tissue

Canadian researchers have developed a robotically controlled method for finding tumours inside patients’ bodies.

A team from Western Ontario University and Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advanced Robotics (CSTAR) has enabled robots to control the same minimally invasive surgery (MIS) sensing instruments used by surgeons.

The researchers claimed that their specially developed robots can detect tougher tumour tissue in half the time and with 40 per cent more accuracy than a human. The technique also minimises tissue damage.

Surgeons developed MIS techniques and instruments so that procedures that would previously have required a large incision can now be performed through a tiny 10mm cut.

These methods reduce tissue damage and infection compared with more traditional surgery and can reduce recovery times and costs.

Usually, a tumour is first discovered in a patient pre-operatively by using scanning techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). While malignant tissue can be mapped out using these techniques, tissues can shift during surgery, making it hard to rely on the position identified by the scan.