Microwave ablation is a technique used for treating patients with colorectal liver metastases. Patients ineligible for liver surgery can often times still be treated using microwave ablation. While liver resection is increasingly performed using a robotic surgery system, microwav
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Microwave ablation is a technique used for treating patients with colorectal liver metastases. Patients ineligible for liver surgery can often times still be treated using microwave ablation. While liver resection is increasingly performed using a robotic surgery system, microwave ablation of liver tumours cannot yet be performed robotically, as no robotic ablation device exists. This thesis aims to develop and evaluate a functioning prototype of a robotic ablation device by testing its technical performance and investigating how it could be used in clinical settings. Several tests were performed to evaluate the technical functionality of the robotic ablation device and to compare it to existing microwave ablation techniques. Additionally, the clinical conditions in which the device would be used were studied and a realistic test environment was set up to mimic real procedures and gather surgeon feedback on possible changes of the design. Test results confirmed the technical functionality and clinical feasibility of the robotic ablation device. Feedback from surgeons experienced in robotic surgery and liver ablation further supported its clinical feasibility for treating colorectal liver metastases. This thesis successfully developed and evaluated a functional prototype of a robotic ablation device, including both its technical and clinical aspects. Future work should improve certain design elements of the device, such as the handle and the shaft, and increase the realism of the phantom test environment. Performing a cadaver study is recommended to assess the device under conditions closely resembling the real clinical setting, to gather the most relevant feedback.