Artificial Intelligence and Robotics have a profound application in medical science and other fields. Engineers are emphasizing AI software and robotics so that they carve a permanent niche and place in the field of healthcare. The West has already employed robots and robotic applications in surgery, patient care, rehabilitation, and many other areas of healthcare. Now, the crucial question is whether robots will completely replace humans in the medical field. The answer is undoubtedly no, as medical practitioners will acquire the necessary technology and skills to effectively manage robots and robotic devices. Some medical schools and organizations have already started courses on training and simulation. Let’s examine ten examples where robots have either permanently assisted or partially replaced medical applications.
- Surgical assistance: Robotics-assisted surgery is performed by doctors as there is much more precision, control and flexibility compared to the traditional techniques. A robotic surgery involves a camera and mechanical and surgical instrument arms while seated in a control center called a console. The surgeon views a magnified, high-definition, three-dimensional view of the surgical site. The robotic system functions like a supercomputer, enabling it to translate the surgeon’s movements into precise real-time actions. The procedure offers several advantages, such as increased precision and reduced recovery time.
- Surgeon has a greater range of motion.
- The surgeon sees a highly magnified operating area.
- The surgery has fewer complications.
- The operation has fewer risks.
- Hospital stays are shorter.
- There’s less pain and a faster recovery.
- The patient will quickly return to family life.
- Rehabilitation & Physical therapy: Robotic rehabilitation is an extremely demanding procedure, especially when patients are about to recover from a stroke or spinal cord injury. Robotic devices interact with patients using mechanisms that attach to their arms or feet. Robotic devices can be used for purposes like
- Soft robotics
- Exoskeleton robots
- End-effector robots
- Robotic rehabilitation with virtual reality
- Electrical stimulation with robotic theory and wearable devices
- Diagnostics and Imaging: AI has played an exemplary role in Medical Imaging and diagnostics. Radiological images such as MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans undergo analysis using AI-powered algorithms and tools. Such analysis will help medical professionals to detect subtle abnormalities and make transparent clinical decisions. It will enable the detection of breast cancer and diabetic retinopathy.
- Hospital logistics: Robotics has an inherent role in controlling hospital pharmacy logistics. Robots add special value by replacing human interaction. They are used in the following acts.
- Sorting and storing medications
- Picking the accurate medication for a prescription.
- • We package the medicinal dose.
- Delivering the medical doses to hospital staff in the right time
- Tracking reports and recording deliveries
- Tracking the inventory and management
Hospital management considers investing in hospital logistics management software.
- Disinfection & Sterilization: We use UV sterilization robots to kill germs in the environment and break down the DNA structure. These steps will prevent the spread of bacterial viruses and other harmful microorganisms. The most advantageous aspects of using robots in these fields include unmanned operation, strong disinfection capabilities, autonomous charging, and high sterilization capacity. There remains no harmful residue, and there is a large working space.
- Remote car & Telepresence: Robots are used as telepresence devices. They have cameras and audio to see and hear what’s in front of them. The user can communicate in a two-way manner. This type of robot finds usage in hospitals, mainly to oversee the patients admitted there. A doctor or physician can station the robot, control it, and instruct it to interact with patients. Either WIFI or Bluetooth powers these robots. The rise of 5G and the advancement of AI have given rise to telepresence robots.
- Pharmacy Automation: Robots are used to streamline medicines in a pharmacy shop. Automation can sort the job easily. AI-powered capacities make it easy to detect two drugs with similar names and spelling. Robotics has dominated the retail pharmacy in a big way in countries like the US and the UK. The recorded time between making a dispensing request and picking the right medicine can be a maximum of 14 seconds. They can very well manage up to 50,000 medicines in an hour. Hence, robots are definitely a better choice.
- Prosthetics & Orthodontics: In countries like Canada and the US, robots are finding a place to replace orthodontics. 6DOF CRS robots come with a single electromagnetic gripper, a computer-controlled system, and a single manipulator tooth-arranged system. The tooth arrangement algorithm and motion control are programmed and arranged with the help of an AI-powered machine. The robot control software is based on the RAPL language. The three-dimensional and virtual tooth arrangement software is based on OpenGL and the VC++ language. Prosthetic Robots possess arms with varying capacities, enabling them to manage operations in a consistent manner. Robots install motion sensors, control techniques, and novel structures.
- Elderly care & patient monitoring: Robots and AI-powered devices are chosen to monitor and care for the elderly people. This project is mainly an integration of intelligent devices, virtual reality, and virtual caregiving modes. You can tailor the modular design to achieve ecological frailty by measuring daily life activities. Digital therapeutic self-management systems tailor the robots to adhere to hypersensitive medications. The program is based on privacy-invasive approaches emphasizing transfer learning and deep learning. VR (Virtual reality) and AR (Augmented reality) technology find a deep-rooted use in patient monitoring technology and elderly care.
- Training & Simulation: The Robotic Simulation course prepares training on multiple surgical robotic platforms. Institutes have designed multiple surgical robotic training courses emphasizing enlightening the surgeons on the skills of instructing a surgery. Medical students receive presurgical education trainings, preparing them to perform operations using robots. Robotics in surgery is becoming a rapidly growing trend in the medical science field.
Various robots have gained importance in the healthcare field. Robotics in medical science is the most coveted trend, and there are various applications. Surgical robots, Germ- Zapping robots, therapeutic robots, Cyberknife robot, and the TUG have become popular robotics usages in medical science.
Reference links:
https://online-engineering.case.edu/blog/medical-robots-making-a-difference
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1155/2014/198748
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950307824000535
https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/robotic-drug-dispensing-digital-pharmacy/?cf-view
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/robotic-surgery/about/pac-20394974
https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/definition/telepresence-robot
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Robotic_Devices_used_in_Rehabilitation
