Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Jul 4:S2405-4569(25)00177-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2025.06.011. Online ahead of print.

Robot-Assisted Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Mini Review of the Literature on Robotic Surgery Platforms for Endoscopic Stone Surgery

Affiliations
Free article
Review

Robot-Assisted Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Mini Review of the Literature on Robotic Surgery Platforms for Endoscopic Stone Surgery

Hyung Joon Kim et al. Eur Urol Focus. .
Free article

Abstract

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) has become a cornerstone in renal stone management, with robotic platforms recently entering clinical practice. This mini review examines the current landscape for robot-assisted RIRS, with a focus on the Roboflex Avicenna, ILY, Monarch, and Zamenix systems. Early clinical data demonstrate feasibility and safety, with potential ergonomic advantages, although robust evidence supporting superiority over conventional techniques remains limited. We describe the distinctive features of each platform, including console design, scope control mechanisms, and integration with endourological tools, and their regulatory status and clinical implementation. Potential benefits include better scope navigation, lower radiation exposure, and enhanced stone clearance, while challenges include high costs, limited accessibility, and the absence of tactile feedback. Future developments may integrate artificial intelligence, real-time surgical guidance, and miniaturized systems. As this technology matures, robotic RIRS could redefine management paradigms for complex stone cases and other upper tract pathology for which conventional approaches prove challenging. PATIENT SUMMARY: We reviewed studies on robot-assisted surgery for kidney stones. Early evidence shows that this approach has greater precision, lower radiation exposure, and less fatigue for the surgeon. It is expected that robotic surgery will result in better outcomes for these patients, but more studies are needed to confirm the early findings.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Robotics; Ureteroscopes; Urinary calculi.

PubMed Disclaimer

LinkOut - more resources