Bulletin No. 2, 2024

The robot serves as an extension of the surgeon’s arms in performing precise surgery acts as the eyes of surgeons,” he explains. “The surgical system enables operations to be performed with precision and dexterity. Its tremor filtration and motion control capabilities allow surgeons to perform complex procedures in confined spaces.” Professor Au believes that it is important for scientists to stay abreast of the technological landscape, and the RAISe+ Scheme provides an effective platform to commercialise research outcomes and enhance the capabilities of surgical robots. One of the team’s plans is to overcome geographical barriers in healthcare procedures. He explains: “We hope to build a comprehensive network that connects different surgical robots, so that surgery can be performed without geographical constraints. For instance, a surgeon in Shatin can perform surgery on a patient who is on Lantau Island.” Professor Au is confident that robot-assisted surgery can help with patients’ wound healing and overall recovery. It also shortens operation durations and avoids unnecessary damage to the patient’s body. “This project is a good collaboration example between our startup and InnoHK’s Multi- scale Medical Robotics Center (MRC). Medical and engineering experts work together toward a common goal: to develop a safe and effective robotic platform to make robotic surgery accessible and cost-effective for more patients worldwide,” he says. To date, the surgical robot has successfully been used on more than 180 human cases in various specialties such as urology, gynaecology, and general and thoracic surgery. A perfect fusion of precise technology and artificial intelligence “While medical and engineering technology are advancing rapidly, we should avoid being complacent,” says Professor Au. With the rise of AI, the team is eager to combine the technology with surgical robots, which will assist surgeons in making the most appropriate judgements in the precise, complex surgery. “The robot’s precision and surgeon’s critical thinking work together to produce the best outcome.” “To me, robots are surgeons’ inseparable work partners, which act like the co-pilot on a plane. We hope to gradually incorporate AI technology into robotic systems so they can cooperate with surgeons seamlessly.” “It is not easy to turn doctors’ ideas into reality,” says Professor Au. The team puts safety as their utmost priority and is committed to ensuring that the surgical system is reliable and stable in every surgery. The professor recalls how complex the invention process was, requiring advanced technology to be | Professor Samuel Au Chinese University Bulletin 8