Port Placement Optimization for Robotically-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) requires ports to be placed through the body wall in a manner such that instruments can reach a desired area. Limitations of laparoscopic surgery include maintaining triangulation and ergonomics for the surgeon while allowing access to the anatomy with non-wristed instruments [1]. In robotically-assisted MIS, the surgeon does not stand bedside, and they have wristed instruments that the robot manipulates. Limitations of robotically-assisted MIS include range of motion (ROM) limits and decreased spatial awareness, resulting in the potential for interfering robotic components. As a result, port placement varies between laparoscopic and robotically-assisted surgery.