Robotics has been instrumental to the field of medicine, specifically surgery. Without the help of robotics, surgeons may still face challenges in ensuring success and prolonging patient survivability. Once again, robots can help save the day and patients by detecting tumors that can’t be accessible through surgery. A snake-like robot was created for this purpose, and let’s learn what it does.
The Study
Challenges in Medicine
In a study published in Soft Robotics, Valdastri et al. studied the concept of a magnetic robot slithering in inaccessible areas in the lungs.
The current method of examining the lungs is using the bronchoscope. It’s twice as wide as the magnetic snake robot. This examination method still gives doctors challenges in going deeper as it could harm the patient.
Not only that, sometimes they can’t obtain a tissue sample, and some patients will end up having a late-stage cancer diagnosis.
The Solution/Result
Although this device won’t be used anytime soon, the potential of having this robot can bring about outcomes that can help doctors diagnose patients better. Currently, most procedures would require most doctors to go for an invasive route before diagnosing the issue at hand. With this robot, both patients and doctors will feel relief. Plus, the snake robot’s flexibility will help doctors get better imagery of the patient’s lungs.
However, Natish V. Thakor, a biomedical engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University, says that surgeons may lose business since a minimally-invasive option is available. But, he did say that it’s a promising new technology in medicine despite that.
Janani S. Reisenauer, Mayo Clinic surgeon, says that this magnetic robot faces stiff competition with Johnson and Johnson’s current technology. However, Valdastri’s version has more benefits in terms of therapeutic and diagnostic use.
Future Use
Seeing as it will be years before this device will be used by medical professionals, it’s expected that robotic arms will become the guide for their magnetic device. The magnet will map out the patient’s lungs, which will help in imagery. Head researcher Pietro Valdastri says that the robot could provide a tissue sample OR administer treatment.
That said, they hope their magnetic snake robot can be used in other parts of the body, such as the heart and kidneys.
If this would be available to the public, it needs to undergo approval and license from the Food and Drug Administration. Plus, they should also conduct clinical trials. And they might need to partner with a manufacturer and get funding.
The potential of this new technology does come with risks. Valdastri recognizes that anyone using pacemakers may not benefit from using this since the robot is magnetized. Plus, the movement of the snake-like robot should move along with the patient’s respiration.
Robotics in Medicine
Robotics has come a long way in medicine. After all, robots have become part of the surgery. For example, the da Vinci Surgical Robot performs minimally invasive procedures. It can be used in the following specializations:
- Cardio
- Head and Neck
- Gynecology
- Colorectal
- Thoracic
- Urology
- General
Bionaut Labs
There’s one startup in California that’s looking to use robots to find tumors and treating nervous system diseases. Bionaut Labs is using a remote-controlled microrobot (bionauts). Similar to Valdastri et al.’s research, Bionaut Labs uses the microrobot in inaccessible areas of the nervous system. Their focus is more on therapeutic help, meaning they want to treat Parkinson’s Disease, gliomas, and strokes. They recognize the risk of the nervous system protecting itself against foreign objects. And Bionaut Labs is confident their bionauts can help doctors and patients alike.
Key Takeaways
Robots are the future of medicine. Robot-assisted magnetic ones and microrobots can help doctors diagnose and treat patients without the need for invasive surgery. Plus, it addresses therapeutics too. Despite its potential, it still comes with risks, and the leaders in the field must do extensive research before health professionals can use it for their patients.
