UK scientists shrink robots for keyhole operations

A British company hopes to revolutionise keyhole surgery – with a robot a third the size of existing devices. Cambridge Medical Robotics claim that their robot arm, which is controlled by a surgeon, will be suitable for use in delicate keyhole surgical operations. Called Versius, it will be able to carry out hernia repairs, colorectal operations, prostate surgery and ear nose and throat surgery. Widely-used existing robots are around three times bigger than Versius. But CMR believe their'Versius' machine will be more useful to surgeons as they will be smaller and cheaper.