Robotically Assisted Interventions: Clinical Trial for Spinal Blocks

Percutaneous interventions are performed by freehand passages of instruments, such as needles, from the skin surface to the anatomy of interest. The main problem with this approach is that the physician can be inaccurate in aligning the instrument and staying on course. A joystick-controlled robotic needle driver may allow the physician to more precisely target the anatomy. This paper describes our experience with a robotic needle driver in a 20-patient clinical trial of nerve and facet blocks. Our next stage of research in robotically assisted lung biopsy is also mentioned.