Use of the EndoMaster robot‐assisted surgical system in transoral robotic surgery: A cadaveric study

摘要

Abstract Background The EndoMaster is a novel robot‐assisted surgical system originally designed for endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal polyps and tumours. It incorporates two robotic arms (a grasper and a probe for monopolar diathermy) into the end of a flexible endoscope, creating improved manoeuvrability, with two arms allowing for 9 degrees of movement and triangulation; this enables fine manipulation and dissection of tissues. Methods The EndoMaster was used in two human cadavers to perform 4 radical tonsillectomies to evaluate its performance in transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Results The EndoMaster allowed for good visualization of the surgical field and its compact form factor allowed for quick docking and avoided the problem of clashing of the working arms. Conclusion The EndoMaster system shows promising potential for use in TORS. Further refinements to movements of the effector arms are required.