Robots Can Now Perform Laparoscopic Surgeries Without Human Help!

Robots perform the world's first laparoscopic surgery without human intervention

Artificial intelligence and robotics are the two technologies that have shown immense potential in the healthcare domain. The integration of AI and robotics in healthcare has not only automated and simplified diagnosis but has also promoted productivity and presented affordable treatment facilities. Surgery has emerged as one of the critical applications where robotics technology is deployed extensively. With the advancements in technology, much progress has been achieved in 3D-high definition and magnification. These are also deployed for surgical procedures like orthopedic, urological, and other related areas. Recently scientists have developed a robot that can perform laparoscopic surgeries without any human intervention. The idea behind creating this robot is to ensure that robots can perform such surgeries on humans in the future, without any intervention, safely.

Introducing Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot

The Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot is trained to perform intricate and delicate tasks in laparoscopic surgeries. They are excelled in intestinal anastomosis, one of the most intricate procedures that require a high level of repetitive motion and precision. Even the slightest hand tremors or a misplaced stitch can result in a leak that in turn can lead to a catastrophic complication for the patient. A structured light-based three-dimensional endoscope and machine learning algorithms guide the STAR robot for performing several tasks. 

The robot initially performed the surgery in the soft tissue of a pig without human help. Performing surgeries on soft tissue is especially difficult for robots since it is unpredictable, and also forces them to adapt to the changing conditions quickly. The STAR team equipped the robot with new advancing features for enhanced autonomy and improved surgical precision, including precise visualizations of the surgical field. 

As technologies in the medical field continue to grow, more and more such innovations and advancements will take place in the future.