By Lee Kyung-min
Revo-i, the first surgical robot made in Korea, won approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Thursday.
The robot, manufactured by meerecompany, will help a doctor perform an endoscopy using 3D imagery to remove the gallbladder or prostate gland.
The doctor will be able to use a control arm to move the robot’s four arms.
The four arms _ three instrument arms and one camera arm _ go inside a patient’s body and locate where surgery is required.
The three surgical equipment-tipped instrument arms then will incise the point, ligate, secure and suture the wound.
The doctor will be able to see the whole process on a monitor.
The company said the surgical robot will help reduce fatigue of doctors which in turn improves accuracy of surgery.
It also helps doctors maximize surgical effectiveness using 3D imaging systems and advanced instruments, and reduces both side effects and patient recovery time.
The ministry said the first domestically produced robot will help reduce the medical costs here, given most such equipment is imported.
Korea spent 19.6 billion won ($17.3 million) last year to import surgical robots, up 34 percent from a year earlier.
The surgical robot industry is growing worldwide, reporting a 12.1 percent annual increase. The worldwide market is expected to be worth 9.6 trillion won by 2021.