The Robotic Surgery Program promotes learning for medical professionals and patients through its wide range of research projects. These research projects are divided into four main categories:
1. Robot-assisted and conventional laparoscopy
- Assessment of the quality of robot-assisted laparoscopic suturing
- Development of robot-assisted techniques for pediatric urology
- Evaluation of the learning-curve effects in robot-assisted and conventional laparoscopic reconstructive procedures
- Understanding the physiology of laparoscopic procedures
2. Quality of life and outcomes
- Assessment of patient satisfaction in laparoscopic vs. open procedures
- Pre- and post-operative management of pain associated with laparoscopic procedures
3. Materials and instruments
- Development and evaluation of novel laparoscopic and robotics instruments
- Assessment of trocar designs and insertion techniques
- Development of suture materials for laparoscopic procedures
- Evaluation of the designs and properties of stents used in pediatric urology
4. Development of new fields
- Robot-assisted laparoscopic fetal surgery (fetobotics)
- Molecular urological imaging
- Radiologic histologic imaging (radiopathology)
- Microrobotics