Clinical advantages of a new collaborative assistant robot (ANSUR surgical unit) in laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

The study evaluates the efficacy of ANSUR-assisted laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery (LS). ANSUR is a collaborative assistant robot equipped with three arms, yet prior literature had not clarified its clinical advantages. Retrospective data from 145 appendectomy and 261 cholecystectomy patients treated between Jan 2023 and Jun 2025 were analyzed across elective and emergency settings. ANSUR-assisted cases showed reduced complicated appendicitis and lower emergency utilization in cholecystectomy, with perioperative outcomes comparable to conventional LS. Median setup times were 5 minutes for appendectomy and 8 minutes for cholecystectomy, and no conversions to open surgery occurred, supporting feasibility, safety, and potential workforce benefits.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Background and surgical context

Robotic system types in gastroenterological surgery

Description and rationale for ANSUR

Study aims and design overview

Journal of Robotic Surgery (2026) 20:140 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s1) 1701-025-03102-w RESEARCH Clinical advantages of a new collaborative assistant robot (ANSUR surgical unit) in laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy Toshiya Higashi1 · Masaki Kimura1,3 · Yuki Kumazaki1 · Takuya Nakashima1 · Kimihiro Hattori1 · Mana Kawajiri1 · Takuya Suzuki2 · Koya Tochii1 · ShujiTakiguchi2 · Hidetoshi Matsunami1 Received: 28 November 2025 / Accepted: 20 December 2025 © The Author(s) 2025 Abstract To evaluate the efficacy of ANSUR-assisted laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery (LS) . The ANSUR surgical unit (ASAHI INTECC CO., LTD., Aichi, Japan) is a new collaborative assistant robot equipped with three arms. However, no studies have reported on ANSUR, and its clinical advantages remain unclear. We retrospectively evaluated the data of 145 patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and 261 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in both elective and emergency settings, at our institution between January 2023 and June 2025. ANSUR-assisted laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 30 of 145 patients, and ANSUR-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 36 of 261 patients. In laparoscopic appendectomy, the proportion of complicated appendicitis in the ANSUR-assisted LS group was significantly lower than that in the conventional LS group (p = 0.006) . However, no significant differences in the perioperative outcomes were observed between the two groups. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the proportion of emergency ANSUR-assisted LS cases was lower than that of conventional LS (p =0.041) . The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of ANSUR-assisted LS were comparable to those of conventional LS. No conversion to open surgery occurred in either ANSUR-assisted laparoscopic appendectomy or cholecystectomy. The median setup time—defined as the interval between ANSUR roll-in and the start of surgery—was 5 min for laparoscopic appendectomy and 8 min for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. ANSUR is a feasible, preliminary, and safe collaborative assistive robot for laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy. Additionally, ANSUR is expected to have clinical benefit in reducing healthcare manpower constrains. Keywords ANSUR surgical unit · Collaborative assistant robot · Laparoscopic appendectomy · Laparoscopiccholecystectomy Introduction Advancements in surgery include cost reduction, improved patient satisfaction, enhanced clinical outcomes, and evolving surgical approaches. Surgical techniques have evolved 􀀍 Masaki Kimura [masaki.kimura.89@gmail.com](masaki.kimura.89@gmail.com) 1 Department of Surgery, Matsunami General Hospital, Gifu, Japan 2 Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, AichiNagoya, Japan 3 Department of Surgery, Matsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, Japan considerably, with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) offering several advantages, such as reduced postoperative pain, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery across various procedures [1] . Typical MIS procedures include thoracoscopic, laparoscopic (LS), and robotassisted surgery (RAS) . RAS has advanced significantly since 2000 and is expected to provide surgical benefits, such as three-dimensional visualization, improved dexterity, better ergonomics, and telesurgery, while retaining the perioperative advantages of LS [2] . Moreover, the routine use of RAS has increased across multiple surgical specialties, with nearly all subspecialties adopting robotic techniques [3] . However, RAS presents several challenges, including limited evidence quality, high costs, and environmental concerns [2, 4] . 1 3 Two primary types of robotic systems are used in gastroenterological surgery: teleoperated systems, in which the surge

FAQs

What is ANSUR and what role does it play in laparoscopic surgery?

ANSUR is a collaborative assistant robot with three arms that supports the operator during laparoscopic surgery by stabilizing the camera and grasping tissue. The surgeon controls relevant functions using sensors and a foot pedal.

How was the clinical effectiveness of ANSUR-assisted surgery assessed?

The study retrospectively evaluated perioperative outcomes in 145 patients undergoing ANSUR-assisted or conventional laparoscopic appendectomy and 261 patients undergoing ANSUR-assisted or conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy across elective and emergency settings from January 2023 to June 2025.

What were the main perioperative findings and safety outcomes?

For appendectomy, the complicated appendicitis proportion in the ANSUR-assisted group was lower than in the conventional LS group (p=0.006), while overall perioperative outcomes were otherwise similar. For cholecystectomy, emergency ANSUR-assisted LS cases were fewer than conventional LS (p=0.041), with comparable intraoperative and postoperative outcomes and no conversion to open surgery in either procedure.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver