The second half of the twentieth century was a time of intensive development in all areas of science, technology, electronics and robotics. Medicine became one of the main vectors for the introduction of robots and artificial intelligence. The main goal of medical robotics development is high accuracy and quality of care, increasing the efficiency of treatment, reducing the risks of harm to human health. Therefore, in this article we will look at new methods of treatment, as well as the use of robots and automated systems in various fields of medicine.
Back in the mid-1970s, the first medical mobile robot ASM appeared in a hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, USA, which transported containers with trays to feed patients. In 1985, the world first saw the PUMA 650 robotic surgical system, designed specifically for neurosurgery. A little later, surgeons got a new PROBOT arm, and in 1992 came the RoboDoc system, used in orthopedics for prosthetic joints. A year later, Computer Motion Inc. introduced Aesop, an automatic hand for holding and repositioning a video camera during laparoscopic surgeries. And in 1998, the same manufacturer created the more advanced ZEUS system. Both of these systems were not fully autonomous, their task was to assist physicians during surgery. In the late 90s, the developer company Intuitive Surgical Inc. created a universal robotic surgical system with remote control – Da Vinci, which every year is being improved and implemented in many medical centers around the world so far.
Classification of medical robots:
Robots currently play a huge role in the development of modern medicine. They contribute to the accurate work in operations, help to make diagnoses and make correct diagnoses. They replace missing limbs and organs, restore and improve human physical abilities, reduce hospitalization time, provide convenience, responsiveness and comfort, and save financial costs for maintenance.
There are several types of medical robots, differing in their functionality and design, as well as the scope of application for different areas of medicine:
Surgical robots and robotic surgical systems – are used to perform complex surgical procedures. They are not autonomous devices, but a remotely controlled tool that provides the doctor with precision, increased dexterity and control, additional mechanical power, reduces surgeon fatigue, reduces the risk of the surgical team getting hepatitis, HIV and other diseases.
Robotic patient simulators – designed to practice decision-making skills and practical medical interventions in the treatment of pathologies. These devices fully mimic human physiology, simulate clinical scenarios, respond to drug administration, analyze the actions of trainees and respond appropriately to clinical interventions.
Exoskeletons and robotic prostheses – exoskeletons help increase physical strength and assist in the musculoskeletal recovery process.
Robotic prostheses – Implants that replace missing limbs consist of mechanical-electrical elements, microcontrollers with artificial intelligence, and can be controlled by human nerve endings.
Robots for medical institutions and robots-assistants are an alternative to orderlies, nurses, nurse, babysitters and other medical personnel, capable of providing care and attention to the patient, assisting in rehabilitation, ensuring constant communication with the attending physician, transporting the patient.
Nanorobots are micro-robots that act in the human body at the molecular level. They are developed for diagnosing and treating cancer, examining blood vessels and repairing damaged cells, they can analyze the structure of DNA, carry out its correction, destroy bacteria and viruses, etc.
Other specialized medical robots – there are a huge number of robots that help in one or another process of human treatment. For example, devices that can automatically move, disinfect and quartz the hospital premises, measure the pulse, take blood for analysis, produce and dispense medicines, etc.