Researchers are developing robotic “fingertips” that could restore surgeons’ sense of touch during minimally invasive and robotic operations. Working within an EU-funded research collaboration called PALPABLE, they are developing a soft robotic “fingertip” that can sense tissue firmness or softness during minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Losing the surgeon’s touchFor many surgeons, the loss of direct touch has been one of the quiet trade-offs of modern surgery. He specialises in minimally invasive and robotic surgery and mostly treats patients with colorectal cancer. “In robotic surgery, tactile feedback is largely absent,” said Arezzo.