Pre-clinical R&D of ALIS (Automated Laparoscopic Instrument Stabiliser) to deliver “solo” keyhole surgery and more cost-effective medical procedures.

先进的微创外科技术正在妇科、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，通过减少执行腹腔镜手术所需的助手数量，医疗保健系统可以显著降低成本，提高资源效率和安全性。外科医生需要单独进行常规的腹腔镜手术。腹腔镜手术中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，需要一名摄像助手操作腹腔镜。为了正确对准手术视野，腹腔镜需要进行微调。照相助手有时会根据外科医生的指示操作腹腔镜。然而，照相助手必须使用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它的意图。由照相助手操作腹腔镜需要和外科医生一样熟练。由于摄像助手不能熟练使用腹腔镜，手术中断的情况并不少见。为了克服这一问题，许多公司开发了大型、高度工程化的机械臂，为外科医生提供所需的“第三只手”。然而，这些机器人系统非常复杂，使用速度慢，而且极其昂贵。同样，医院通常需要专门的手术室和训练有素的工作人员来操作这些机器人，所以它们没有被广泛使用。为了解决这个问题，Smart Surgical Appliance Ltd开发了一种自动腹腔镜器械稳定器(ALIS)或摄像机器人，可以支撑和定位腹腔镜，而不是人工摄像助手。这是世界上第一个患者安装的小型机器人，可以让外科医生通过脚部控制器免提控制腹腔镜，而不需要专门的设施或训练有素的工作人员。ALIS粘在病人身上，类似于伤口敷料，提供了一种紧凑和经济高效的单独传递MI的方式。一个工程原型已经成功开发出来，并在模拟的腹腔镜手术中进行了测试。拨款是为了使该团队能够推进ALIS的开发，关键是使外科医生能够在活体动物手术中测试ALI，促进必要的改进，为转移到制造、监管批准和人类手术做准备。

Advanced minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are being performed in gynaecology, cardiac surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and general surgery. MIS general surgery is called laparoscopic surgery and usually requires two to three surgical assistants to perform. However, the healthcare system can significantly reduce costs and 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 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 camera assistant operates the laparoscope.Laparoscopes need fine adjustment for the correct aiming at the surgical field. Camera assistants sometimes operate the laparoscope according to a surgeon's instructions. However, camera assistants must operate the laparoscope using their judgement to understand the surgeon's intentions to move it according to how the surgery progresses. The operation of a laparoscope by a camera assistant 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 overcome this problem, many companies have developed large, highly engineered robotic arms that provide a surgeon with the required "third hand". However, these robotic systems are very complex, slow to use, and extremely expensive. Equally, hospitals often need dedicated operating theatres and trained staff to run these robots, so they are not widely used.To solve this problem, Smart Surgical Appliances Ltd has developed an automated laparoscopic instrument stabiliser (ALIS) or camera robot that can hold and position a laparoscope instead of a human camera assistant.It is the world's first patient-mounted, small form factor robot that allows the surgeon to control the laparoscope hands-free via a foot controller with no specialist facilities or trained staff required. ALIS is stuck onto the patient, similar to a wound dressing providing a compact and cost-effective way of delivering solo MIS.An engineering prototype has been successfully developed and tested in simulated MIS procedures with laparoscopic surgeons. Grant funding is sought to enable the team to advance ALIS's development and crucially enable surgeons to test ALIS in live animal surgery, facilitating essential refinements in preparation for transfer to manufacture, regulatory approval, and human surgery.