Nanotechnology

Abstract

The ongoing quest to minimize the invasiveness of surgery is exemplified by robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery, single-incision laparoscopic surgery, and even natural-orifice transluminal surgery. Surgeons and engineers are pushing the boundaries of technological advancement to allow the performance of complex procedures with minimal trauma to the patient. Miniaturization and robotic-assistance are key components of this progress, and in 2009, we are witnessing increasing enthusiasm for novel systems, which have moved out of the engineering laboratory and into the operating room. While the da Vinci® surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA, USA) heralded the first widely imp..