History of Computer-Assisted Surgery

Robotic surgery is growing rapidly, with more than 5000 units in operation worldwide. The most widely used robotic surgery system originated from the concept of telepresence, which led to government-sponsored research and development. The resulting work was taken over by private industry, which led to Food and Drug Administration clearance of the first systems in 2000 to 2001. Robotic surgery offers significant advantages over open surgery; its most important feature is the introduction of a computer into the operating room, with the resulting potential for data collection and analysis that will shape surgical practice in the future.