ALIS (Automated Laparoscopic Instrument Stabiliser) to enable “solo” keyhole surgery and more cost-effective medical procedures.

随着第四次工业革命的到来，外科器械和手术程序的发展和演变加快了步伐。开放手术的传统工具正在转变为新的设备，其使命是向“超级外科医生”发展，即能够更快、更有效、更少错误地开展工作的外科医生(Taylor，2003)。然而，尽管有这一使命，效率仍然很低，特别是在微创手术(MIS)领域。今天，管理信息系统中的一系列先进技术正在妇科、心脏外科、矫形外科和普通外科中进行。MIS普通外科手术被称为腹腔镜术，通常需要两到三名手术助手才能完成。然而，医疗保健系统可以通过减少执行腹腔镜手术所需的助手数量来显著降低成本、提高资源效率和安全性。腹腔镜手术中使用的主要器械是通过微小的切口处插入患者体内的照相机或腹腔镜，以提供体内的情况。不幸的是，由于腹腔镜的大小、重量和形状，手术照相助手需要操作腹腔镜。腹腔镜手术需要微调，才能使其正确对准外科领域。摄影助理有时会根据外科医生的指示操作腹腔镜；然而，摄影助理需要根据他们的判断来操作腹腔镜，以了解外科医生根据手术进展移动腹腔镜的意图。由照相助手操作腹腔镜术需要和外科医生一样熟练。为了解决这个问题，Smart Surgical Applgals Ltd已经开始开发一种自动腹腔镜器械稳定器(ALIS)或摄像机器人，可以用来支撑和定位腹腔镜，而不是人工摄像助手。ALIS设备体积小，重量轻，可以在短时间内轻松地安装在患者身上。手术医生通过脚上的鼠标直接控制ALIS设备，允许外科医生定义他们的确切手术视角并执行单独的腹腔镜手术。这将提高手术室的效率、安全性和成本，并使医疗机构能够更有效地管理资源，以推动改进，以满足日益增长的患者需求。

With the 4th industrial revolution upon us, the development and evolution of surgical instruments and procedures have gathered pace. The classic tools of open surgery are being transformed into new devices whose mission is to evolve towards the "super-surgeon," i.e. a surgeon who can carry out their work faster, more efficiently, and with fewer errors (Taylor, 2003).However, despite this mission, significant inefficiencies remain, particularly in the field of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Today, a range of advanced techniques in MIS is being performed in gynaecology, cardiac surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and general surgery. MIS general surgery is referred to as laparoscopic surgery and usually requires two to three surgical assistants to perform. However, the healthcare system can significantly reduce costs, improve resource efficiency and safety by reducing the number of assistants required to perform laparoscopic surgery.There is a need for surgeons to perform routine laparoscopic procedures solo. The primary instrument used in laparoscopic surgery is a camera or laparoscope inserted in the patient's body through tiny incisions to provide a view inside. Unfortunately, due to the laparoscope's size, weight, and shape, a surgical camera assistant operates the laparoscope. The operation of the laparoscope needs fine adjustment for the correct aiming of the laparoscope at the surgical field. Camera assistants sometimes operate the laparoscope according to a surgeon's instructions; however, camera assistants need to operate the laparoscope using their judgment to understand the surgeon's intentions to move the laparoscope according to how the surgery progresses. The operation of a laparoscope by camera assistants requires as much proficiency as that of surgeons. It is not unusual for surgery to be interrupted due to a camera assistant not being sufficiently proficient in using the laparoscope.To solve this problem, Smart Surgical Appliances Ltd has commenced the development of an automated laparoscopic instrument stabiliser (ALIS) or camera robot that can hold and position a laparoscope instead of a human camera assistant. The ALIS device is small in size and lightweight to be mounted on the patient with ease and in a short space of time. The operating surgeon directly controls the ALIS device via a foot mouse, allowing the surgeon to define their exact surgical view and perform solo laparoscopic procedures. This will improve operating theatre efficiency, safety, cost and enable healthcare institutions to manage resources more efficiently to drive improvements to meet growing patient demands.