Book excerpt: The purpose of this book is to define the basis of telemicrosurgery, a new discipline at the border of robotics and microsurgery. After the history of robotics and microsurgery, the robots and their instrumentation will be described. The chapters will explain the training in telemicrosurgery and then propose some experimental paradigms. The first clinical applications for various specialties will be explored. In closing, potential future applications will be discussed.