In this paper, a bio-inspired parallel manipulator with one translation along z-axis and two rotations along x- and y- axes is developed as the hybrid head mechanism of a groundhog robotic system. Several important issues including forward kinematic modeling, performance mapping, and multi-objective improvement are investigated with specific methods or technologies. Accordingly, the forward kinematics is addressed based on the integration of radial basis function network and inverse kinematics. A novel performance index called dexterous stiffness is defined, derived and mapped. The multi-objective optimization with particle swarm algorithm is conducted to search for the optimal dexterous stiffness and reachable workspace.

Forward kinematics, performance analysis, and multi-objective optimization of a bio-inspired parallel manipulator

During the last years, there has been an increase in research in the field of medical robots. This trend motivated the development of a new robotics field called ''robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery''. The paper presents the kinematic and dynamic behavior of a parallel hybrid surgical robot PARASURG-9M. The robot consists of two subsystems: a surgical robotic arm, PARASURG 5M with five motors, and an active robotized surgical instrument PARASIM with four motors. The methodology for the robot kinematics is presented and the algorithm for robot workspace generation is described. PARASURG-9M inverse dynamic simulation is performed using MSC Adams and finally some numerical and simulation results of the developed experimental model with its system control are also described.

An active hybrid parallel robot for minimally invasive surgery

With the successful uptake and inclusion of robotic systems in minimally invasive surgery and with the increasing application of robotic surgery (RS) in numerous surgical specialities worldwide, there is now a need to develop and enhance the technology further. One such improvement is the implementation and amalgamation of haptic feedback technology into RS which will permit the operating surgeon on the console to receive haptic information on the type of tissue being operated on. The main advantage of using this is to allow the operating surgeon to feel and control the amount of force applied to different tissues during surgery thus minimising the risk of tissue damage due to both the direct and indirect effects of excessive tissue force or tension being applied during RS. We performed a two-rater systematic review to identify the latest developments and potential avenues of improving technology in the application and implementation of haptic feedback technology to the operating surgeon on the console during RS. This review provides a summary of technological enhancements in RS, considering different stages of work, from proof of concept to cadaver tissue testing, surgery in animals, and finally real implementation in surgical practice. We identify that at the time of this review, while there is a unanimous agreement regarding need for haptic and tactile feedback, there are no solutions or products available that address this need. There is a scope and need for new developments in haptic augmentation for robot-mediated surgery with the aim of improving patient care and robotic surgical technology further.

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Prevalence of haptic feedback in robot-mediated surgery: a systematic review of literature.

Model-based control improves robot performance provided that the dynamics parameters are estimated accurately. However, some of the model parameters change with time, e.g. friction parameters and unknown payload. Particularly, off-line identification approaches omit the payload estimation (due to practical reasons). Adaptive control copes with some of these structural uncertainties. Thus, this work implements an adaptive control scheme for a 3-DOF parallel manipulator. The controller relies on a novel relevant-parameter dynamic model that permits to study the cases in where the uncertainties affect: (1) rigid body parameters, (2) friction parameters, (3) actuator dynamics, and (4) a combination of the former cases. The simulations and experiments verify the performance of the proposed controller. The control scheme is implemented on the modular programming environment Open Robot Control Software (OROCOS). Finally, an experimental setup evaluates the controller performance when the robot handles a payload.

Adaptive control of a 3-DOF parallel manipulator considering payload handling and relevant parameter models

Robotic-assisted surgery is a continuously developing field, as robots have demonstrated clear benefits in the operating room. This paper presents the inverse dynamic model (in the case of using the laparoscope as a surgical instrument) and some characteristics of a 5-DOF hybrid parallel robot designed for minimally invasive surgery. The new inverse dynamic model is obtained using the virtual work method on the basis of dynamically equivalent lumped masses. The simulation and numerical results have been obtained for the experimental model of the developed PARASURG-5M robot, showing that the analytical inverse dynamic model could be used in the control of the robot. Finally, a comparison between the simulation data obtained in Matlab (IDM) with the simulation data through a Multi-body Simulation software (MBS), namely Adams (MBS) has been performed.

Development of inverse dynamic model for a surgical hybrid parallel robot with equivalent lumped masses

The paper presents the parallel robot, which has been developed in Romania and it is used for laparoscope camera positioning. Based on its mathematical modeling, the first low-cost experimental model of the PARAMIS surgical robot has been built. The system has been built in such a way that it has the possibility to transform it in a multiarm robot controlled from the console. The control input allows the user to give commands in a large area for the positioning of the laparoscope using different interfaces: joystick, microphone, keyboard & mouse and haptic device. The first results have been obtained through the performing of an experimental laparoscopic cholecystectomy using PARAMIS surgical robot. The model which was used was a porcine liver, removed with the gall-bladder and the bile ducts. Due to its very easy use control system, surgeons have adapted rapidly to the use of PARAMIS in surgical procedures. Some of its advantages could be emphasized: precision of the movements; absence of the laparoscope operator’s natural tremor, direct control over a smooth, precise, stable view of the internal surgical field for the surgeon; no fatigue; allows the use of both hands for the actual procedure; reduces eye fatigue; eliminates the need for a second surgeon to be present for the entire procedure.

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PARAMIS parallel robot for laparoscopic surgery.

Robotic assisted surgery is a continuously developing field, as robots have proved their utility in the operating rooms. Some of their advantages could be summed as follows: increased precision, the possibility of reaching positions and places that could prove difficulty in reaching using classical instruments, the replacement of medical personnel in the operating room, allowing for more space and cost saving etc. Until now, the vast majority of robots used in surgery, had serial structures. A new parallel hybrid architecture is proposed in this paper, the kinematics of this new structure is determined, the singularities are discussed and the design of the robot is presented.

Kinematics and Design of a 5-DOF Parallel Robot Used in Minimally Invasive Surgery

This paper presents the parallel hybrid robot, PARASURG 9M, for robotically assisted surgery, a robot which was entirely designed and produced in Romania. It is a versatile robot, being composed of a positioning and orientation module, PARASURG 5M with five degrees of freedom, having the possibility of attaching at its end either a laparoscope or an active surgical instrument for cutting/grasping, PARASIM, with four degrees of freedom. Based on its mathematical modelling, the first low-cost experimental model of the surgical robot has been built. The robot is part of the surgical robotic system, PARAMIS, with three arms, one used as a laparoscope holder, and other two for manipulating active instruments. When it is used as a manipulator of the camera, the user has the possibility to give commands in a large area for the positioning of the laparoscope using different interfaces: joystick, microphone, keyboard & mouse and haptic device. If the active surgical instrument, PARASIM, is attached, the robot commands are given through a haptic device. The main features that make the PARASURG 9M surgical robot suited for minimally invasive surgery are: precision, the elimination of the natural tremor of the surgeon, direct control over a smooth, precise, stable view of the internal surgical field for the surgeon. It also eliminates the need of a second surgeon to be present for the entire procedure (in the case of using the robot as a camera holder). In addition, there is improvement of surgeon dexterity in the case of using the PARASIM active instrument and better ergonomics in using the robot (in the case of the classic laparoscopy, the surgeon must adopt a difficult position for a long period of time, while the robot never gets tired). Having a relatively easy to understand, intuitive commanding system, the surgeons can rapidly adapt to the use of the PARASURG 9M robot in surgical procedures.

/pdf/parasurg-hybrid-parallel-robot-for-minimally-invasive-4o36hz633g.pdf

PARASURG hybrid parallel robot for minimally invasive surgery.

Robots are useful tools in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), providing benefits such as elimination of hand tremor, better accessibility, possibility of working in awkward positions, workspace scaling and teleoperation. This paper presents the design of a software application and the experimental results regarding the control of PARAMIS surgical parallel robot using the combined resources of personal computers and PLC's. The general software architecture of the application program (both PC level as well as the PLC level connected into an open architecture information system) is described. The implementation of a 7dof. Haptic equipment as control device is presented. The used control techniques enable the possibility of acquiring the monitored parameters on LAN Ethernet support.

M. Suciu

Papers

An active hybrid parallel robot for minimally invasive surgery

PARAMIS parallel robot for laparoscopic surgery.

Kinematics and Design of a 5-DOF Parallel Robot Used in Minimally Invasive Surgery

PARASURG hybrid parallel robot for minimally invasive surgery.

The control of the PARAMIS parallel robot using a haptic device