US researchers have developed an autonomous robotic system that can remove tumours from the tongue with precision equal to, or even surpassing, that of a human surgeon.

A team from Johns Hopkins University in the US has developed the ASTR system (Autonomous System for Tumor Resection), designed to remove cancerous tumours from sensitive areas such as the tongue.

When removing cancerous tissue, the aim is both to remove all at-risk tissue and to preserve healthy tissue. But striking the right balance is not always easy, given that removing too little tissue can leave behind cancer cells that can then spread.

ASTR was designed precisely for this type of intervention. The system, comprising two robotic arms, can perform a partial glossectomy. It is particularly precise - something that can be difficult for a human to achieve in this type of procedure.

This solution has already been successfully tested in the team's laboratory. The system has successfully removed the equivalent of 5mm of tissue from pig tongues. To achieve this, the researchers drew the tumor contours and then programmed ASTR to remove the tumour to the desired thickness, in this case 5mm.

In the future, a surgeon will be able to oversee the operation, providing the system with various kinds of preoperative information. The robot will then proceed step by step, as dictated. This initial research is detailed in a paper published in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Robotic and Automation Letters journal.

This is a further step forward for the team which, two years ago, pioneered the first fully autonomous laparoscopic surgery technique (Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot - STAR), aimed at connecting two ends of an intestine. Whereas STAR focused on connecting tissue, ASTR was specifically designed to remove it. The next step will be to intervene on internal organs, such as the kidneys, which require internal surgery and dissection to access the tumour.

 - AFP Relaxnews