Feasibility study of robotic surgery in ophthalmology

• Grant number: 11/10715-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: August 15, 2011
• End date: August 14, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Wallace Chamon Alves de Siqueira
• Grantee: Wallace Chamon Alves de Siqueira
• Host Investigator: Dimitri T. Azar
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), United States

Abstract

Currently there are three surgical robots in Brazil, all located in São Paulo. According to the official website of the equipment's manufacturer, today, only six Brazilian surgeons are considered trained in robotic surgery. The University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) has made available to its Department of Ophthalmology a "Da Vinci" robot, exclusively to research. The project will be led by me and held in conjunction with the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology and currently Director of the School of Medicine. Dr. Dimitri Azar. UIC will also have the support of engineers and technicians from Intuitive Surgical, Inc., in developing the technology for ophthalmology. The project goal is the development and testing in animal models, new arms and instruments of manipulation specific to ophthalmic surgery. Hopefully, with this project, we will develop the basics of robotic surgery ophthalmology in a systematic way, anticipating difficulties and adapting the technology to implement this technology in a comprehensive medical practice. The development stages of the project will take place according to the difficulties and opportunities observed during the course of the surgeries. The opportunity to participate in such advanced technology with the availability of local institutional resources to develop the necessary tools is unique and was made possible by the willingness of the local investigator to delegate the leadership of this project to me. I believe that the members of this project will determine the basis of robotic surgery for eye and acquire knowledge to develop technologies never imagined. (AU)