Surgical Robotic Technology in the United States: Growth Trends, Social Benefits, and Public Policy

Surgical Robotic Technology in the United States details the evolution, growth, and diffusion of surgical robotic technology in the United States and globally. It begins with a historical overview of the development of surgical robots, highlighting key milestone events. The analysis covers the growth and adoption of these systems in U.S. hospitals as well as the global diffusion of systems. The role of public sector support through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program is discussed, and an empirical analysis of the growth and diffusion of research funding related to surgical robotic technologies is provided. Following the empirical analysis of the aggregate level of surgical robotic technology, a specific technology is considered, namely the da Vinci surgical robotic system, and the growth and diffusion of that technology is also estimated. Following the discussion of the societal benefit of the technology, a framework for evaluating the ratio of social benefits to social costs of surgical robotic technologies is offered. Finally, the monograph concludes with a discussion of the role of public policy initiatives in supporting the diffusion and further development of surgical robotic technology.