Technological advances in the modern operating room have pushed neurosurgeons to the limits of their dexterity and stamina. Motion scalers and tremor filters on robots permit unprecedented precision of tool manipulation, upgrading the human hand, and closing the deftness deficit. The evolution of neurosurgical robots from stereotactic systems to hybrid systems capable of both stereotaxy and microsurgery is examined. The future of robot-assisted neurosurgery, including expanded tool sets and the prospect of semi-autonomous surgery, is discussed.
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