Future of Robotics: At OT, Robotic Surgeons will Head the Surgery

The future of robotics is anticipated to streamline robotic surgeons and telesurgery methods

'Will you get surgery from a robot?' is a question that still makes us unsure whether it is okay or not okay. If we snap out of the thought and look at it practically, robotic surgeons are already taking over the healthcare industry by storm. Many robots are of big use to the surgeon in both assisting and performing the surgeries. The future of robotics is anticipated to streamline robotic surgeons and telesurgery methods.

Alike how manufacturers rely on robots to reduce human errors, maintain product quality and nullify human loss, robotics in healthcare industry is alleviating fatigue while aiding procedures requiring great precision. Robotic surgery or robot-assisted surgery, allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with conventional techniques. Initially, robotic surgery was used to associate with minimally invasive procedures performed through a tiny incision. However, as technology evolved and the robotics in healthcare has reached certain extend of innovation; emerging trends like robotic arms, micro-robots are expanding the role of robots in the sector. Even though the high cost of surgical robots is a barrier to adoption, healthcare industry is still dedicating a part of its revenue to stay at the edge. The global market for surgical robots was valued at US$3.9 billion in 2018 and is anticipated to reach US$6.5 billion with a CAGR of 10.4%. With more healthcare facilities embracing robots for surgeries, the future of robotics in healthcare is expected to be behind many revolutionary changes in the coming years.

Like many other technologies, robotic surgeons also saw quick adoption in global tech leaders like the United States and Europe. Fortunately, when the benefits of robotics in healthcare came to light, many other countries followed the suit. The most widely used clinical robots in healthcare industry include a camera arm and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached to them. When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and barricaded doctors from free access to patents, the concept of robotic surgery, especially, telesurgery took center stage. The integration of robots as a shielding layer, physically separating the healthcare workers and patients were seen as a powerful tool to combat the omnipresent fear of pathogen contamination and surgical volumes. The da Vinci surgical system is the market leader in innovating and distributing extraordinary robots to perform complicated surgeries. With more companies emerging to leverage surgical robots with advanced technologies, the future of robotics will grow exponentially in healthcare industry.

Types of robots and robotic surgeries

Robotic prostate surgery: Traditionally, prostate surgeries were quite critical as they made a large incision in the abdomen of the patient and it took a long time for them to recover. Fortunately, with the help of robotics in healthcare, prostate surgeries can be made simple. Robotic prostate surgery makes use of smaller incisions to get the operation done and this leads to faster recovery for patients. Besides, robot surgeons also ensure that the blood vessels and nerves are not damaged in the process. They don't put patients at a critical spot as the chances of damage to delicate areas are nullified using robots.

Miniature robots: The future of robotics in healthcare is expected to unravel more micro and nano technological solutions to minimize the damages knives and other surgical equipment cause. As a first step towards the goal, the healthcare industry is using miniature robots to perform surgeries at the peritoneal cavity. The two-arm robot is flexible and has multiple functionalities. Miniature robot surgeons offer scarless surgeries and can be used by inexperienced surgeons under the mentorship of veterans, expanding patient access.

Robotic gynecologic surgery: Gynecologic surgeries have to follow some hectic procedures that could harm women's uterus and surrounding anatomy if done manually. Open gynecological surgeries have the standard approach of starting with large incisions in the abdomen. Unfortunately, this could cause significant pain, physical trauma, and take a long time to recover. However, robotic advantages have opened the door to laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy in gynecologic surgeries. For women, using robots to minimize the damage to their uterus is a good alternative.

Capsule robots: In addition to becoming a critical part of the operation theatres, robotics in healthcare can also be used for diagnostic purposes and drug delivery. Capsule robots are miniaturized endoscopes that can be manipulated via magnetic interactions, allowing for an untethered design with enormous freedom of movement. It also causes less tissue damage and fast accessibility.

The emergence of telesurgery

Robots have evolved; however, people still find it difficult to accept robotics in healthcare, especially, for critical procedures like surgeries. While there are lingering doubts on the future of robotics in the healthcare industry, the concept of telesurgery has streamlined, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. Telesurgery is defined as a surgical procedure carried out at a distance using robots and computer technology. Even though the first demonstration of telesurgery took pace in 2001 when surgeons in New York operated on a 68-year old woman in Strasbourg, France, the technology gained its importance in 2020. Besides the lockdown and inability to perform operations, the emergence of 5G technology has also contributed to the adoption of telesurgery.