Miniature Robotic Telesurgery Demonstration Aboard the ISS

This work describes a technology demonstration that tested robotic surgery while aboard the Increment 70 Expedition of the International Space Station (ISS). The experiments utilized a new miniature surgical robot and robotic endoscope camera. This capable device was packaged into a NASA standard payload, an Express Rack Locker, enabling an “Operating Room in a Shoebox.” The robot conducted simulated surgical exercises both autonomously and tele-surgically, while being remotely controlled by an Earth-based surgeon. The effects of microgravity and latency on robotic surgery were investigated; microgravity had little impact on robot kinematic performance, whereas latency had a significant effect on surgeons, increasing operative times and economy of motion.