Abstract
Surgical subspecialties have successfully combined robotic technology with traditional practices. In doing so, they have benefited from increased precision in techniques, reduced incidence of surgical complications, and reduced MSK disorders. This scoping review aims to examine the extent of cobotics in obstetric ultrasound. The review was conducted using the JBI PRISMA protocol to map the topic of robotics in obstetric ultrasound. Teleoperated remote ultrasound formed the largest combined clinical cohort of 67 patients. Limitations of the 20-week scan concerned incomplete visualization of fetal structures. These included cavum septi pellucidi, cardiac outflow tracts, kidneys, lips and spine. Third trimester scans omitted umbilical artery Doppler measures. Patients having telerobotic ultrasound report the experience as “comfortable” and would agree to repeat the robotic scan in the future. Obstetric cobotic literature was found to focus on the following subtopics: robotic-assisted ultrasound, automated image acquisition, image stitching and fusion, teleoperated remote ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided robotic surgery. Ultrasound-guided robotic surgery was performed for maternal partial nephrectomy and cervical cerclage. The most mature application of obstetric cobotics is seen in teleoperated remote ultrasound, where pilot trials have used clinical patients. Other areas are early in the research phase, with investigation for proof of concept testing.
RAS ID
82507
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2025
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / School of Science
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publisher
Wiley
Identifier
Caterina Watson: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9097-7859
Leisa Armstrong: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9634-016X
David Cook: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2264-8719
T. M.Shahriar Sazzad: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8037-1412
Comments
Watson, C., Armstrong, L., Cook, D., Sazzad, T. M. S., & Parange, N. (2025). Cobotic ultrasound systems in obstetric assessment: A scoping review. Sonography. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/sono.12535