• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.156-163
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• 2012

Purpose: Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a widely accepted surgical technique. Recently, robotic gastrectomy has been developed, as an alternative minimally invasive surgical technique. This study aimed to evaluate the question of whether robotic gastrectomy is feasible and safe for the treatment of gastric cancer, due to its learning curve. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively collected data of 100 consecutive robotic gastrectomy patients, from November 2008 to March 2011, and compared them to 282 conventional laparoscopy patients during the same period. The robotic gastrectomy patients were divided into 20 initial cases; and all subsequent cases; and we compared the clinicopathological features, operating times, and surgical outcomes between the three groups. Results: The initial 20 robotic gastrectomy cases were defined as the initial group, due to the learning curve. The initial group had a longer average operating time ($242.25{\pm}74.54$ minutes vs. $192.56{\pm}39.56$ minutes, P>0.001), and hospital stay ($14.40{\pm}24.93$ days vs. $8.66{\pm}5.39$ days, P=0.001) than the experienced group. The length of hospital stay was no different between the experienced group, and the laproscopic gastrectomy group ($8.66{\pm}5.39$ days vs. $8.11{\pm}4.10$ days, P=0.001). The average blood loss was significantly less for the robotic gastrectomy groups, than for the laparoscopic gastrectomy group ($93.25{\pm}84.59$ ml vs. $173.45{\pm}145.19$ ml, P<0.001), but the complication rates were no different. Conclusions: Our study shows that robotic gastrectomy is a safe and feasible procedure, especially after the 20 initial cases, and provides a satisfactory postoperative outcome.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.136-148
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• 2013

Purpose: To define the role of robotic gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer, the present systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search up to July 2012 was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. All eligible studies comparing robotic gastrectomy versus laparoscopic gastrectomy or open gastrectomy were included. Results: Included in our meta-analysis were seven studies of 1,967 patients that compared robotic (n=404) with open (n=718) or laparoscopic (n=845) gastrectomy. In the complete analysis, a shorter hospital stay was noted with robotic gastrectomy than with open gastrectomy (weighted mean difference: -2.92, 95% confidence interval: -4.94 to -0.89, P=0.005). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss with robotic gastrectomy compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy (weighted mean difference: -35.53, 95% confidence interval: -66.98 to -4.09, P=0.03). These advantages were at the price of a significantly prolonged operative time for both robotic gastrectomy versus laparoscopic gastrectomy (weighted mean difference: 63.70, 95% confidence interval: 44.22 to 83.17, P<0.00001) and robotic gastrectomy versus open gastrectomy (weighted mean difference: 95.83, 95% confidence interval: 54.48 to 137.18, P<0.00001). Analysis of the number of lymph nodes retrieved and overall complication rates revealed that these outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusions: Robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer reduces intraoperative blood loss and the postoperative hospital length of stay compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy and open gastrectomy at a cost of a longer operating time. Robotic gastrectomy also provides an oncologically adequate lymphadenectomy. Additional high-quality prospective studies are recommended to better evaluate both short and long-term outcomes.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.67-70
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• 2015

To establish an appropriate policy for robotic surgery in Korea, the National Evidence-based Collaborating Agency (NECA) and the Korean Society of Health Policy and Administration held a round-table conference (RTC) to gather opinions through a comprehensive discussion of scientific information in gastric cancer. The NECA RTC is a public discussion forum wherein experts from diverse fields and members of the lay public conduct in-depth discussions on a selected social issue in the health and medical field. For this study, representatives from the medical field, patient groups, industry, the press, and policy makers participated in a discussion focused on the medical and scientific evidence for the use of robotic surgery in gastric cancer. According to the RTC results, robotic surgery showed more favorable results in safety and efficacy than open surgery and it is similar to laparoscopy. When the cost-effectiveness of robotic surgery and laparoscopy is compared, robotic surgery costs are higher but there was no difference between the two of them in terms of effectiveness (pain, quality of life, complications, etc.). In order to resolve the high cost issue of the robotic surgery, a proper policy should be implemented to facilitate the development of a cost-effective model of the robotic surgery equipment. The higher cost of robotic surgery require more evidence of its safety and efficacy as well as the cost-effectiveness issues of this method. Discussions on the national insurance coverage of robotic surgery seems to be necessary in the near future.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2014

Fish generates thrust with a compliant fin which is known to increase the efficiency. In this paper, the performance of a robotic dolphin, the velocity and the stability, was improved using an optimal compliant caudal fin under certain oscillating frequency. Optimal compliance of the caudal fin exists that maximizes the thrust at a certain oscillating frequency. Four different compliant fins were used to find the optimal compliance of the caudal fin at a certain frequency using the half-pi phase delay condition. The swimming results show that the optimal compliant fin increases the velocity of the robotic fish. The compliance of the caudal fin was also shown to improve the stability of the robotic fish. A reactive motion at the head of the robotic dolphin causes fluctuation of the caudal fin. This phenomenon increases with the oscillating frequency. However, compliant fin reduced this fluctuation and increased the stability.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2011

Robotic thyroidectomy has been developed to minimize neck scarring, and several authors have described its feasibility and safety, and have reported surgical outcomes comparable with conventional open thyroidectomy. The da Vinci surgical system robot provides a three-dimensional $10-12{\times}$magnified view of the surgical area. It also provides hand-tremor filtration, fine motion scaling, and precise and multi-articulated hand-like motions. Recently, robotic technology has also been applied to lateral compartment neck dissection in thyroid cancer. We have developed a new novel selective neck dissection procedure by a gasless unilateral axillo-breast (GUAB) approach with a da Vinci Surgical System for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma to avoid a long visible neck scar. Based on our early experience, robotic selective neck dissection by GUAB approach is a safe, feasible and cosmetically excellent procedure. It can be an alternative to conventional open surgery in the highly selected patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The oncologic safety of robotic selective neck dissection should be verified with long-term follow-up data.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.594-597
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• 2005

In this paper, I-PDA controller based on Coefficient Diagram Method incorporating feedforward controller is applied by robotic manipulators. Robotic manipulator models contain uncertain elements, which are not known exactly. Therefore, the dynamics of robotic manipulators are generally classified as uncertain dynamic system. The controller considered for the robotic manipulators need to move payloads of different masses from one point to another with good balance of the stability and response, consequently we propose I-PDA controller based on Coefficient Diagram Method incorporating FFC. The effectiveness of the controller for different system type of robotic manipulators is demonstrated by the simulation results.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.2448-2450
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• 2005

A robotic external fixation system for the surgery of bone deformity correction was developed to simulate the execution process of mal-unioned femur by the adjustment of the joints of the fixation system. An inverse kinematics analysis algorithm was developed to calculate the necessary rotations and translations at each joint of the robotic system. The computer graphic model was developed for validation of the analysis result and visualization of the surgical process. For given rotational and angular deformity case, the surgical execution process using the robotic system was well matched with the pre-operative planning. The final residual rotational deformities were within $1.0^{\circ}{\sim}1.6^{\circ}$ after surgical correction process. The presented robotic system with computer-aided planning can be useful for knowledge-based fracture treatment and bone deformity correction under external fixation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.635-641
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• 2004

A human-friendly interactive system that is based on the harmonious symbiotic coexistence of human and robots is explored. Based on interactive technology paradigm, a robotic cane is proposed for blind or visually impaired travelers to navigate safely and quickly through obstacles and other hazards faced by blind pedestrians. Robotic aids, such as robotic canes, require cooperation between human and robots. Various methods for implementing the appropriate cooperative recognition, planning, and acting, have been investigated. The issues discussed include the interaction of human and robot, design issues of an interactive robotic cane, and behavior arbitration methodologies for navigation planning.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.96.4-96
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• 2001

A remote controlled robotic system using the Internet is proposed in this paper. The robotic system can for example act as a substitute for a child who is staying in a hospital. Using the proposed robotic system, the bedridden child can easily look around the inside of his/her classroom, and can talk to other people. The proposed robotic system will encourage a bedridden child to maintain his/her study habits. The robotic system has a CCD camera, a speaker, a microphone, and a PC display on the robot main body. An operator also has a CCD camera, a microphone, and a PC display on the operator desk. The two personal computers are connected using the Internet ...

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2004

A human-friendly interactive system that is based on the harmonious symbiotic coexistence of human and robots is explored. Based on this interactive technology paradigm, a robotic cane is proposed for blind or visually impaired travelers to navigate safely and quickly through obstacles and other hazards faced by blind pedestrians. The proposed robotic cane, "RoJi,” consists of a long handle with a button-operated interface and a sensor head unit that is attached at the distal end of the handle. A series of sensors, mounted on the sensor head unit, detect obstacles and steer the device around them. The user feels the steering command as a very noticeable physical force through the handle and is able to follow the path of the robotic cane easily and without any conscious effort. The issues discussed include methodologies for human-robot interactions, design issues of an interactive robotic cane, and hardware requirements for efficient human-robot interactions.ions.