Acrobot: knee surgery's robotic assistant

Filed in archive News on February 8, 2006

A robot-assisted knee-surgery turned out to be more significantly accurate than the conventional procedure, suggests a study at the Imperial College London.

A robotic assistant called Acrobot could improve surgical outcomes for patients undergoing partial knee replacement. It works by helping the surgeon align replacement knee parts with the existing bones.



The Acrobot system showing from left to right the Acrobot robot, passive positioner and control computer.

Professor Justin Cobb, who led the research team, said: "These robots are designed to hold the surgeon's hand in the operating theater, not take over the operation. This study shows they can be an enormous help, preventing surgeons from making mistakes.

With this study's favorable outcome, Researchers hope to develop a new generation of less invasive procedures without the risks of error, providing faster recovery and better functional outcomes for knee-surgery patients.

Photo Source: [Imperial College London]