Abstract
Medical robotics is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on developing electromechanical devices for clinical applications. The goal of this field is to enable new medical techniques by providing new capabilities to the physician or by providing assistance during surgical procedures. Medical robotics is a relatively young field, as the first recorded medical application occurred in 1985 for a brain biopsy. It has tremendous potential for improving the precision and capabilities of physicians when performing surgical procedures, and it is believed that the field will continue to grow as improved systems become available. This chapter offers a comprehensive overview about medical robotics field and its applications. It begins with an introduction to robotics, followed by a historical review of their use in medicine. Clinical applications in several different medical specialties are discusssed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of technology challenges and areas for future research.