Surgical Robotics
Wednesday, April 11,11:00-12:30, Ballroom B, University Hotel Minneapolis

Organizer: Timothy Kowalewski, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington

"A hopeful vision of the future of surgical robotics" 
Robert Sweet, MD, Department of Urology, University of Minnesota

"A Surgeon's Perspective on Strengths and Weaknesses of Surgical Robots"
Kenneth Liao, PhD, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota

"Computational Surgery: A New Field of Research"
Timothy Kowalewski, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington

Session Abstract:

For over a decade, hospitals have embraced surgical robots at dramatic pace and this rate of adoption continues to increase. While there are many patient benefits, this technology also brings new challenges. These robots provide new opportunities for clinicians and engineers alike to advance the state of the art.

Session Organizer Bio:

Timothy Kowalewski, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington
Tim Kowalewski completed his PhD at the University of Washington's Biorobotics lab and will join the faculty of UMN Mechanical Engineering. He was a research scientist with DARPA’s “Traumapod: Operating room of the future” project, a major contributor to UW’s research on machine learning in surgery, and is currently working with industry partners to commercialize Biorobotics lab technologies. 

Speaker Bios:

Robert Sweet, MD, FACS, Department of Urology, University of Minnesota
Dr. Rob Sweet received his medical degree (alpha omega alpha) from the University of Minnesota in 1997. After a urology residency at the University of Washington in Seattle in 2003, he became Attending Physician/Acting Assistant Professor of Urology and held a 2-year Scholarship in Simulation Sciences from the American Foundation for Urological Diseases (AFUD). In 2004 Dr. Sweet co-founded the Institute for Surgical and Interventional Simulation (ISIS) at the University of Washington. He currently holds the positions of Associate Professor of Urology and Director of the Medical School's Simulation Programs at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Sweet practices Urology with a focus on robotics and endourology and his lab is actively engaged in simulation projects including the development of a human tissue property database, advanced real time and predictive modeling of human tissue and tool interactions, and delivery systems for the dissemination of simulation technologies. He has leadership positions in the area of simulation within the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, and the American Urological Association.

Kenneth Liao, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota
Dr. Kenneth Liao is the surgical director of heart transplant program and director of minimally invasive cardiac surgery program at the University of Minnesota. He received his MD/PhD degree from Beijing University. He completed his cardiovascular surgery fellowship in the University of Minnesota. His clinical expertise includes robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, heart transplant and circulatory assist devices. He performed the 1st Robotic cardiac surgery in the state of Minnesota and he is among the most experienced cardiac surgeons in the US in robotic and minimally invasive heart surgery, complex heart surgery and heart transplant. He has been selected as Best Doctors and Top Doctors by his peers.

Presentation Abstracts:

"A hopeful vision of the future of surgical robotics" 
This talk will reflect on the history and hopeful future of minimally invasive surgery and surgical robotics from the perspective of a technologically savy, early-adopting urologic surgeon. Factors driving the field that will be addressed include ”invasiveness”, patient safety, management of natural and augmented sensory/clinical information, ergonomics and user interface issues, training, efficiency and cost. 

"Computational Surgery: A New Field of Research"
Surgery is often called an "art as much as a science." In truth, operating rooms lack the rich, quantitative data that science requires to thrive. Due to the incursion of robotics into the operating room key problems in medicine can now be addressed via quantitative engineering techniques. After a brief survey of enabling technologies, this talk will illustrate applications in two areas: objective measurement of surgical skill and "smart tools."