Robert Brooks

Touch is a key enabling modality in many surgical procedures. Recreating, amplifying, and augmenting the surgeon’s sense of touch in surgical robotics relies on innovations in compact, high reliability, scalable force-torque sensing technologies.

This session will give an overview of the roles of force and torque sensing in surgical robotics; including tip of instrument sensing, trocar remote center of motion/tissue contact, surgeon collaboration/leading/tool insertion, and surgeon-console interfaces.

We’ll dive in core specifications and the state-of-the-art of what’s possible with force-torque sensing technologies, along with best practices for implementing force-torque capabilities into your surgical robot, including:
- Thermal compensation and considerations under surgical drapes
- Grounding & shielding inside ultra compact robotic joints
- Engineering cable assemblies for high-flex, multidimensional, tight bend applications