Multi-centric international 10-year review of surgical magnetic mechatronics in HPB, bariatrics, OB-GYN, urology and neurosurgery: minimally invasive technology, robot design & actuator-sensor fusion.

Magnetically actuated surgical systems represent a disruptive class of mechatronic devices that offer a promising approach to enhance minimally invasive (MIS) procedures by reducing tissue trauma. This literature systematic review synthesizes 10 years evidence, from 2016 to 2026, on magnetic mechatronics and robotics in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB), bariatric, gynecologic, urologic, and neurosurgical applications, focusing on design principles, actuator-sensor fusion, and performance compared to non-magnetic systems. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched Scopus using specific Boolean strings for magnetic actuation in the surgical field. Eligibility required experimental validation and clinical translation, prioritizing Q1 and Q2 journals. After title, abstract, and full-text screenings, 187 of 68,956 studies were included. Data extraction focused on technical metrics like coupling efficiency and positional precision, alongside clinical outcomes such as safety and invasiveness. In this sense, a narrative synthesis grouped findings by mechanism and specialty. In correlation, key findings highlight coupling models such as dipole-dipole and gradient-driven force transmission. Indeed, performance envelopes showed sub-millimetric accuracy and improved workspaces for retraction and anchoring over conventional tools, though thermal and saturation limits persist. These systems demonstrate potential for multispecialty translation, establishing a mechatronic framework to guide future platform designs. Limitations include prototype heterogeneity and limited large-scale clinical data. This analysis underscores engineering constraints and opportunities for advanced actuator-sensor integration in MIS procedures.