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How did computed tomography help the PUMA 560 place a biopsy needle in the brain?
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robotic surgery
Laparoscopic cameras and robotic hands performing coronary artery bypass surgery in place of open-heart surgery.
In 1985, the PUMA 560 became the first surgical robot used in a stereotaxic operation to perform a brain biopsy. Computed tomography was essential to this procedure because it provided the precise imaging data required to guide the robot's movements.1
By utilizing these images, the system could accurately direct the biopsy needle to the target site within the brain, effectively eliminating the risk of error caused by human hand tremors during needle placement. This integration of robotic precision with advanced imaging marked a significant development in robotic surgery, establishing a foundation for modern stereotaxic surgery techniques that rely on three-dimensional coordinates to treat deep-tissue lesions.12