Current status and future perspective: robot-assisted laparoscopic techniques        ZHOU Ning-xin, LIU Quan-da. The PLA Secondary Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China
Corresponding author：ZHOU Ning-xin, E-mail: zhounx301@163.com
Abstract    With the widespread of conventional laparoscopic techniques, modern surgery has evolved into a minimally invasive era. However, the limitations of conventional laparoscopic equipments confine its further expanding applications. The advent of robot-assisted laparoscopic techniques (surgical robot), with advantages of improved 3D visualization of the operative field and increased dexterity allowing more precise and complicated procedures, overcomes above limitations. Thus, there has been an unprecedented explosion in the use of surgical robotics in all surgical subspecialties, which heralds the coming of a new minimally invasive era.