Surgical robot systems (SRS) represent an innovative cross‐disciplinary research field using robotic technology to assist surgeons in operations. Current bottlenecks in SRS, such as the limited ability to process complex information and make surgical decisions, have not been effectively solved. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable technique for simulating and extending human intelligence. AI offers a new direction and impetus for SRS by enhancing performance in areas such as perception, navigation, surgical planning, and control strategies. This review introduces the developmental history of AI‐aided SRS, summarizes the basic SRS architecture, and analyzes how AI can improve SRS performance. Classical cases of AI‐aided SRS, the impact of evidence in clinical settings, and associated ethical and legal considerations are explored. Finally, the challenges in AI‐aided SRS are discussed, including algorithm development, surgical data science, human–robot coordination, and trust building between humans and robots.

The inhaled nanoparticles have attracted more and more attention, since they are more easily to enter the deep part of respiratory system. Some nanoparticles were reported to cause pulmonary inflammation. The toxicity of nanoparticles depends not only on its chemical component but also on the quantity and position of the deposition. The deposition of nanoparticles is not uniform and is influenced by airflow transport. The high deposition mainly occurs at the carinal ridges and the inside walls around the carinal ridges. Many factors could affect the transport and deposition of nanoparticles, such as particle size, flow rate, structure of airway, pulmonary function, and age. In this review, we discussed the methods and technique involved in particle transport and deposition studies. The features of particles deposition could be observed in clinic experiments and animal experiments. The mechanism of transport could be studied by numerical simulation. Numerical model and experiment study supplement each other. Some techniques such as medical imaging may support the study of nanoparticles transport and deposition. The knowledge of particles transport and deposition may be helpful both to defend the toxicity of inhaled particles and to direct inhaled drug delivery.

Integrating a prosthetic hand to amputees with seamless neural compatibility presents a grand challenge to neuroscientists and neural engineers for more than half century. Mimicking anatomical structure or appearance of human hand does not lead to improved neural connectivity to the sensorimotor system of amputees. The functions of modern prosthetic hands do not match the dexterity of human hand due primarily to lack of sensory awareness and compliant actuation. Lately, progress in restoring sensory feedback has marked a significant step forward in improving neural continuity of sensory information from prosthetic hands to amputees. However, little effort has been made to replicate the compliant property of biological muscle when actuating prosthetic hands. Furthermore, a full-fledged biorealistic approach to designing prosthetic hands has not been contemplated in neuroprosthetic research. In this perspective article, we advance a novel view that a prosthetic hand can be integrated harmoniously with amputees only if neural compatibility to the sensorimotor system is achieved. Our ongoing research supports that the next-generation prosthetic hand must incorporate biologically realistic actuation, sensing, and reflex functions in order to fully attain neural compatibility.

Displaced pelvic fracture is among the most complicated fractures in traumatic orthopedics, with high mortality and morbidity. Reduction is considered a complex procedure as well as a key part in surgical treatment. However, few robotic techniques have been employed in the reduction of pelvic fracture, despite the rapid advancement of technologies. Recently, we designed a robot surgery system specialized in the autonomous reduction of displaced pelvic fracture and applied it in the true patient for the first time. In this paper, we report its successful clinical debut in the surgery of a displaced pelvic fracture. Total surgery time was 110 min and an anatomic reduction was achieved. We then present a brief overview of the literature about reduction techniques in pelvic fracture and introduce related principles involved in our robot-assisted reduction system.

Background: Localization and resection of nonvisible, nonpalpable pulmonary nodules during video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery is challenging. In this study we developed a surgical navigation puncture robot system in order to locate small pulmonary nodules before thoracoscopic surgery.Methods: Four pigs were divided into group A and group B and underwent positioning puncture with the aid of the robotic system. The pigs in group A breathed freely during the experiment, whilst mechanical ventilation was used on the pigs in group B.Results: Using the robotic system to locate nodules achieved good results. For group A, a total of nine simulated nodules were created and successfully localized. The mean positioning accuracy was 9.6 ± 4.9 mm (range, 3.2–17.4 mm), and the time required for system positioning was 7.1 ± 1.0 minutes (range, 5.6–8.2 minutes). For group B, a total of 23 simulated nodules were created and successfully localized. The mean positioning accuracy was 2.9 ± 1.5 mm (range, 0.7–5.9 mm), and the time required for system positioning was 7.8 ± 1.1 minutes (range, 6.3–9.7 minutes).Conclusions: The new method using a surgical navigation puncture robot system to locate small pulmonary nodules is feasible and safe, and its positioning accuracy is sufficient to meet clinical requirements. In addition, results indicated that breathing had a great influence on the positioning accuracy, mainly in the longitudinal direction. Our surgical navigation puncture robot system has wide future applications for accurately locating small pulmonary nodules in a clinical setting.Key points: Significant findings of the study: A new method using a surgical navigation puncture robot system was developed to locate small pulmonary nodules before thoracoscopic surgery. The results indicated that this method can provide accurate localization and permit smaller and more precise resections.What this study adds: A surgical navigation puncture robot system has wide future applications for accurately locating small pulmonary nodules in a clinical setting.