From Surgeries to Keeping Company: The Place of Robots in Healthcare

 

 

Approximately 28 million diabetic patients globally are thought to have vision-threatening retinopathy.  

Neural and vascular changes in the retina are a prominent feature of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema and the main sight-threatening complications in the retina of many people with diabetes.²
 
Robotic technologies are increasingly influential in the medical fields. A recent article from The Medical Futurist provides several areas where the application of robotics is already apparent.¹
There are many points of interest in this article and the authors include a variety of videos in their article to show us just how useful robotics can be.

For instance, in telemedical networks:
 

The following is a summary of robotic use cases identified in the article, and the companies driving the innovation:

• Surgery robots enable surgeons to perform minimally invasive and highly accurate surgeries. (Intuitiv, Johnson & Johnson, and Verily)
• Supply chain robots help ease the burden of overstretched medical professionals by taking over tasks that are mundane, monotonous, mentally daunting, or physically demanding. (Simek, Dilligent, and Atheon)
• Cleaning robots can disinfect hospitals and reduce hospital-acquired infections by using UV light to cause cellular damage to microorganisms. (Xenex)
• Micro-robots are being researched that could enable doctors to deliver targeted medication or relief or to perform medical procedures inside the body.
• Exoskeleton robots help surgeons through long hours at the operating table and have enabled a paralyzed person to walk. (Nitto, and Ekso Bionics)
• Rehabilitation robots help paralyzed patients regain the use of their limbs, through mind control. (ReWalk Robotics)
• The remote-controlled robots and display devices used in telemedical networks help connect doctors and patients, thereby improving healthcare access in remote areas or facilitating remote interactive patient check-ups. (InTouch Health, Doctor on Demand, Health Tap, Anybot)
• Robots help with the daily care of the sick, young, and elderly through concierge services, but also with education and companionship. (Luvozo, Jibo, Blue Frog Robotics)

Given the opportunity of robotics, it is not surprising that there are many companies bringing products to market. This field, however, is emergent. Robots are generally focused on specific tasks. The names of the robots, some more playful than others, often allude to their specificity of purpose: Moxi, Buddy, Pepper, TUG, Origami Robot, Lightstrike, ReStore, Doctor on Demand, Archelis, Relay Autonomous Robot, PhamASSIST ROBOT X and DaVinci Surgical System.

The article takes the position that, although machines may displace some jobs within the medical fields, this would be a positive development that could supplement and extend human ability. In this view, robots enable humans to focus on what is important: high-quality service, social connection, problem-solving, knowledge-making, and education. 

 

---

References: