TOMSK, Mar 21 – RIA Tomsk. Tomsk microsurgeons to carry out the first surgery with the participation of robot: unique device will help to perform stitches on blood vessels with a diameter of 1-2 millimeters; the robot called "Katyusha" is created at a plant in Germany, the director of the Tomsk Scientific Research Institute of Microsurgery Vladimir Baitinger told RIA Tomsk.
Robots work hard
Earlier it was reported that the Tomsk Scientific Research Institute of Microsurgery and German company WEIZ Industrie und Robotertechnic GMBH have begun to create a unique robot which can perform stitches on the smallest human blood vessels.
Recently, Baitinger returned from Germany, where he visited the plant, where the future assistant of Tomsk microsurgeons is being developed and assembled.
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Vladimir Baitinger
"The work of microsurgeons is very difficult, many hours-long. We get very tired after we work at the operating table for six to seven hours. Unfortunately, the most crucial moment - the inclusion of a transplant in the bloodstream – occurs at the stage when the doctors are tired", – Baitinger told.
According to him, the robot will help the surgeons at this final stage of the operation.
"Microsurgeons with the help of the robot will have to sew two vessels (artery and vein) – donor and recipient. These are vessels with a diameter of about 1-2 millimeters, on each of them must be completed up to six stitches. This is very hard work, and we have very large hopes for that robot. Thus, we take care of ourselves and our patients", – the interlocutor of the agency explained.
He added that the first operation with the participation of a microsurgical robot is planned to be carried out in October during the First Microsurgical Summit of Siberia, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Institute of Microsurgery.
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The base for the Tomsk robot, produced by the Japanese company
No fatigue, no tremor, no complications
According to the head of the Institute, the robot will participate in highly sought-after operations where the technique of microvascular reconstructive surgery is used. For example, in cases of lymphatic transplants for the treatment of edema of the upper limbs, developing after removal of the breast due to cancer.
It was on such an operation at the Tomsk Scientific Research Institute of Microsurgery in the autumn of 2018 that German engineers conducted macroshooting of the work of doctors. They made measurements while moving the hands of doctors during the execution of a microvascular suture, recorded the parameters of microscopes and other medical equipment. Based on these data, a unique microsurgeon robot was designed.
"The robot that is being developed according to our requirements is not a pure robot – it does not perform the operation itself. The operation is performed by the surgeon, but at the stage of the microvascular suture this device is connected, and the doctor performs the seam remotely using joysticks and microtools. This greatly facilitates the work because there is no feeling of fatigue, tremor of the hands, which positively affects the mood of the doctor himself", – the interlocutor noted.
He added that thanks to this device, the quality of execution of the microvascular suture will improve and the number of vascular thrombosis (complications after surgery – Ed.) will significantly decrease – from 6% to 1-2%. In addition, will decrease the time of the operation and the cost of patient treatment will also decrease.
Russian-German "Katyusha"
"This project is being carried out together with the company of Waldemar Weiz – this is our former compatriot, the owner of the robotics plant in Germany. This is a joint project within the framework of the agreement we signed. For the first time, the robot was named not male, but female, it will be called "Katyusha", – Baitinger explained.
According to him, the German engineers have already presented the configuration of the future robot and found the base (the basis for the device) – Yaskawa (the producer is – Japan).
"The German engineers really liked those Russian tools we work with, they believe that they will be very well suited for this robot", – the interlocutor of the agency added.
According to the website of the Tomsk Scientific Research Institute of Microsurgery, this is the only specialized research institute in Russia and the CIS countries. During the year, up to 1 thousand operations of varying degrees of complexity are performed at the plastic surgery clinic.
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Vladimir Baitinger at the plant in Germany