Five uses of robotics in medtech
Of course we’re not talking R2D2, K9 or Metal Mickey coming at you with a scalpel (yes, showing my age).
Robots have a range of uses in all sorts of industries and medtech is no exception. Lu Rahman looks at some of the technological advances helping healthcare improve care.
French fancy: ROSA the robot
The ROSA robotic device from French firm Medtech, has been designed to increase safety and reliability of neurological procedures and acts as an accurate surgical assistant. Said to be ‘GPS’ for the brain, the robot can be used for any type of cranial procedure requiring surgical planning with preoperative data, patient registration and precise positioning and handling of instruments.
Twist & shout: Nanobots drill through arteries
Involves drilling through blocked arteries with corkscrew-shaped nanobots.
Researchers at Drexel University, Philadelphia, have been looking at this technology which uses corkscrew-shaped nanobots to drill through blocked arteries. A string of nanoscale iron oxide beads enters the bloodstream via a catheter. They act like articulated swimmers linked by a chemical bond and magnetic force. As an external magnetic field acts on each bead, it causes it to twist like corkscrew as they travel through the blood.
The robot is ready for you now: Google’s robotic surgery
It’s probably no surprise that Google is making in-roads into the healthcare sector and robotic technology. The Google X life sciences division is well documented for its technological advances and is joining forces with Johnson & Johnson’ Ethicon to develop robotic surgery concepts.
The robots will use artificial intelligence to aid surgeon in the operating theatre. It is said that will offer greater control and accuracy than by using hand which aims to minimise trauma and damage to the patient.
My name’s Vinci, Da Vinci: UK robot scoops film role
In 2002 the media reported on the first UK surgical robot that was developed by Imperial College and St Mary’s NHS trust. And it didn’t end there. So impressive was the Da Vinci robot, it was picked up by the film industry and gleaned a starring role in the James Bond film Die another Day alongside Pierce Brosnan.
Plastic fantastic: Robot inside MRI machine
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have been looking at an MRI-compatible robotic surgery tool with plastic parts and ceramic piezoelectric motors meaning it can work safely inside an MRI machine (robots with metal parts present problems with the machine’s magnetic field).
The machine was tested on patients undergoing prostate biopsies. It allows radiologist to use real-time MRI images to guide the movement of the robot and is said to be able to move around inside the machine without affecting image quality.