Robotic surgeon precisely removes cancerous tumors

Diagram detailing the different parts of ASTR, including the electrosurgical instrument, the vacuum grasping instrument, and the tongue base clamp - The Autonomous System for Tumor Resection, designed by a team of Johns Hopkins researchers, can remove tumors from the tongue with accuracy rivaling-or even potentially exceeding-that of human surgeons - Removal of cancerous tumors, or resection, in delicate areas like the head and neck is a challenge for even the most experienced surgeons. When removing cancerous tissue, the aim is to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible to prevent unnecessary losses to the patient; however, removing too little tissue risks leaving behind cancer cells that may return or even spread. Factored into this delicate equation are inherent mental and physical obstacles like fatigue, burnout, and visual obstruction, which the steadiest of hands and the best of intentions cannot always overcome. Enter ASTR: the Autonomous System for Tumor Resection. Designed by a team of Johns Hopkins researchers to overcome those human factors, ASTR can remove tumors from the tongue with accuracy rivaling-or even potentially exceeding-that of human surgeons. The team's research appeared in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Robotic and Automation Letters . "Doing a resection that has precise margins is a super difficult task," said team leader Axel Krieger , assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering.