Surgeons Can Feel a Robot's Grip

Thanks to advances in biomedical engineering, the use of robotic systems in surgery has become increasingly common. A clear challenge in robotic surgery, however, is the lack of haptic technology — there have been limitations in the ability to provide force feedback to the surgeon. Because many medical devices and surgical tools such as grippers and laparoscopic instruments do not provide tactile sensation, there has been no definitive way for a surgeon to sense how much force is being applied when using the instrument. This lack of tactile feedback limits the range of surgical techniques and affects the surgeon's dexterity.