5 Ways Robotics in Medicine is Making Us Healthier
Technology influences every part of our modern lives, but nowhere is the presence of advanced robotic technology put to the most obvious public good than in the healthcare industry. From accomplishing humble transportation tasks to performing surgeries, robots are helping us to live longer and more fulfilling lives.
1.Offloading Menial Work To Robots
Moving things from one place to another is always a necessity in a hospital, but when a machine like a TUG Robot takes care of it, the trained staff has more time to spend with the patients. The TUGs can be programmed to take care of important tasks like moving medicines from the pharmacy or simple tasks like taking out the trash.
2. Simultaneous Places With Remote Presence Robots
There are always more patients than there are doctors to see them. Sometimes, the specialist that a particular patient needs to see is in another city. While nothing can replace an in-person visit or one-on-one interaction with a doctor, the InTouch Vita Remote Presence Robot is specifically intended for interaction with patients in a clinical setting. This allows the right doctor to see the right patients, regardless of physical location.
3. Building Cyborgs With Robotic Artificial Limbs
Losing a limb is no small matter, and traditional replacements have a number of shortcomings. Almost like a science fiction story, modern robotic artificial limbs can provide feedback to the wearer much like a real arm or leg, allowing the wearer to control certain functionality with their mind. The amputee will never forget that the limb is not real, but further advances in robotics can help assuage the pain by making difficult things possible again.
4. Using Robots For Precise Surgery
Patients in need of surgery for certain kinds of ailments may be candidates for robotic surgery. Using a small robotic arm, a camera, and an assortment of tools, a surgeon can control the arm remotely and perform intricate movements with a small incision. The camera allows the surgeon a better view of the patient, and the precision of the computerized tools prevents unnecessary damage. This provides the patient with a shorter recovery time, less pain, and a lower risk of infection.
5. Would You Trust A Robot Doctor?
As medicine advances and our knowledge of how the body interacts and grows, smart super-computers like IBM’s Watson will be used more frequently for assistance in diagnoses. Robot physicians can take into account all of the patient data, and find things that a human doctor might overlook. While there is still a lot of work to do in this area, the promise of a system that combines the expertise of the best doctors in each field is hard to overlook.
The Takeaway: Medical Technology Is Enriching And Saving Lives
While robotics and computer technology are advancing at a rapid pace, nothing can ever replace the need for human connection during times of sickness or pain. The aim of such technology in the healthcare industry is to give doctors, nurses, and other professionals more freedom and time to spend with each patient, bringing care and healing to those who need it most.
