Robotic systems for high-precision delivery of radionuclide microsources in low-dose brachytherapy surgeries

Development of robotic systems for surgery is an important issue nowadays because of the higher requirements for accuracy of performance of surgical procedures, increased complicity of surgical technique and the trend towards combined interventions. The review covers the questions of robotization of brachytherapy by example of prostate cancer. Key goal of brachytherapy automatization is to increase efficacy of the treatment which is achieved mainly by more accurate seed deposition in accordance with operation plan. Existing image-guided (ultrasound, MRI, CT) robots for brachytherapy, their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The main directions of development of robots for brachytherapy are defined.