Robots in the operating room--the history.

The history of robotics can be traced back to the automata of ancient Greece, but it has only been within the last 50 years that machines have been made to mimic human actions in order to perform labor rather than to entertain and amuse. Furthermore, it has been only within the last 20 years that robotic technology has been applied to the practice of surgery. The goal of this technology has not been to replace the surgeon, but rather to enhance his or her performance with highly advanced tools. We present a brief history of some of the key points in the development of surgical robotics and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various US Food and Drug Administration-approved robotic surgical systems and surgical robots in general.