Development of Minimally Invasive Surgery Systems

OVERVIEW: In responding to the health and medical needs of Japan’s rapidly aging society, the early detection of diseases and the ability to treat health conditions without imposing an inordinate burden on the patient have emerged as critically important issues. These factors have fueled a demand for minimally invasive surgery systems that minimize the pain and trauma of surgery and promote faster recovery and return to work. Hitachi Group has been an industry leader in the development and deployment of minimally invasive surgery systems including the intraoperative MRI operating room system that was deployed at Tokyo Women’s Medical University in 2000. This system has proved effective in performing malignant brain tumor operations, and has shown an exceptionally high malignant tissue removal rate. In another development, approval was obtained from the Medical Ethics Committee of Shinshu University School of Medicine for a micromanipulator built around a robotics system designed to aid in brain surgeries, and the system’s functional capabilities were verified through clinical trials conducted in August 2002. Finally, the endoscopic manipulator was developed in a joint project with The University of Tokyo, and this system’s effectiveness and performance was verified through clinical trials carried out with the cooperation of Kyushu University. These R&D initiatives to develop minimally invasive surgery systems are finally being brought into practical use in the operating room. Shio Miyamoto Madoka Sugiura Shigeru Watanabe Kunio Oyama