Potential technology to help surgeons during spinal surgery

Prof. Philip Breedon of Nottingham Trent University’s Medical Design Research Group is leading a team of researchers developing robotic arms that semi-autonomously drill holes into individual vertebrae, and exploring the use of augmented reality to provide surgeons with live visual feedback to illustrate the depth of each hole as it is drilled.
Prof. Breedon said: “Surgeons performing life-changing operations to correct spinal conditions such as scoliosis or kyphosis have to ensure pinpoint levels of accuracy are achieved to avoid causing unnecessary and potentially serious injuries. This technology promises to deliver greater levels of accuracy than ever previously achieved, or even humanly possible, to improve the safety and efficiency of such procedures which are needed by people with serious spinal conditions.” The researchers have recorded the accuracy of drilling at 0.1mm which is possible because the robotic arms work together and naturally with the patient’s spine during the operation whilst drilling.
Prof. Bronek Boszczyk, consultant spinal surgeon, head of Spinal Surgery at Benedictus Krankenhaus Tutzing, Germany, and a visiting professor at Nottingham Trent University, said: “It is paramount that spinal procedures are carried out with total accuracy in order to minimise what can be substantial risks to a patient. This technology has the potential to minimise those risks by performing a key part of the operation with accuracy which cannot be achieved by a human hand.”