Robotics in 2015
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Ideal Health World?
“Imagine a world in which advanced robots expertly and inexpensively perform and augment most physical tasks… In a world of advanced robotics, surgeons are assisted by miniature robotic surgery systems, greatly reducing both the time necessary for procedures and their invasiveness. Recovery is more rapid as well. People suffering from paralysis due to spinal injuries are able to walk again with the help of robotic exoskeletons directly connected to the nervous system.” (McKinsley Global Institute, 2013 May, pp. 68).
“Imagine a world in which advanced robots expertly and inexpensively perform and augment most physical tasks… In a world of advanced robotics, surgeons are assisted by miniature robotic surgery systems, greatly reducing both the time necessary for procedures and their invasiveness. Recovery is more rapid as well. People suffering from paralysis due to spinal injuries are able to walk again with the help of robotic exoskeletons directly connected to the nervous system.” (McKinsley Global Institute, 2013 May, pp. 68).
It is not so
far for being the reality. Already today, robotics allow this dream become
true. “Advances in artificial intelligence, machine vision, sensors, motors, and hydraulics—even in materials that mimic a sense of touch—are making this possible.” (McKinsley Global Institute, 2013 May, pp. 69).
Here are some examples of technologies which have change the healthcare system significantly.
The Hybrid Assisted Limb (HAL) robotic suit, robotic exoskeleton
A great example of use robotics in healthcare is a 'cyborg-type robot' HAL (Hybrid Assisted Limb robotic suit), designed by Japanese robotics firm Cyberdene.
In 2012 HAL suits were being used by 130 different medical institutions across Japan. In 2013 the Hybrid Assisted Limb (HAL) robotic suit, robotic exoskeleton to help rehabilitate disabled people passes safety tests and was paved to be sold in Europe. HAL “responds to signals sent from a wearer's brain, enabling those who has lost the use of their legs to walk again." (Woollaston, 2013 August 5, para. 3).. |
The ROBEAR
Another, example of robotics in a healthcare is a robot ROBEAR, created by Japanese institute RIKEN and a Sumitomo Riko company.
The ROBEAR - a robotic bear, that takes over some physically demanding tasks from workforce • helps immobile or otherwise impaired patients, • lifts patients from their beds to the wheelchairs and back, • transports patients in its arms, • supports those less stable on their feet. These tasks “every member of the nursing staff has to carry out up to forty times a day, which frequently leads to chronic back pain.” “Although the robot has not yet been tested in real hospital settings, the RIKEN researchers believe it could provide the right answer to the problem.” (Pultarova, 2015 February 23, para. 2, 3, 5). |
Roboarm, Robohand, robofinger
Robohand/robofinger and roboarm are great intentions of Robohand company established in 2012 by Richard van As and Ivan Owen.
Roboar, Robohand, robofinger – 3D printed and aluminum CNC machined, anatomically driven, custom fitted, mechanical devices to help limb different individuals as an alternative to standard prosthetics.
200 people have already got these amazing cost effective prostheses. “Robohand was nominated for the Rockefeller Innovators Award plus we have exhibitions in the Science Museum of London and the Youngstown museum.” (Robohand, 2015).
Roboar, Robohand, robofinger – 3D printed and aluminum CNC machined, anatomically driven, custom fitted, mechanical devices to help limb different individuals as an alternative to standard prosthetics.
200 people have already got these amazing cost effective prostheses. “Robohand was nominated for the Rockefeller Innovators Award plus we have exhibitions in the Science Museum of London and the Youngstown museum.” (Robohand, 2015).
PARO Therapeutic Robot
PARO is an advanced interactive therapeutic robot baby harp seal which has been found to reduce patients’ stress and their caregivers by a leading Japanese industrial automation company AIST.
According to the last researches in this area, PARO has a calming psychological effect and elicit emotional responses on patients of hospitals and nursing homes, improving their relaxation and motivation. In this case, this product could be successful not only in hospitals and nursing homes, but in a private use also. Although, today the therapeutic robot baby harp seal costs 5000$, you still can take a look at in Japan Foundation office in Toronto. |
Da Vinci robotic system
"Intuitive Surgical developed the da Vinci robotic system to perform minimally invasive surgeries through superior visualization, enhanced dexterity, greater precision, and ergonomic comfort”.
Da Vinci performs surgery using very small tools attached to a robotic arm. The surgeon controls the robotic arm with a computer. “With incisions of only 1 or 2 centimeters, surgeons can perform even complex procedures such as open-heart surgery, according to Intuitive Surgical. The system reduces hospital stays by half, reducing costs by about one-third, because of less pain and speedier recovery, according to the company” (Alison, 2011 January 27, para. 3). |
Sofie
Sofie is the simpler moniker for Surgeon's Operating Force-feedback Interface Eindhoven created by Dr. Linda van den Bedem. The robot incorporates force feedback, allowing surgeons to feel the pressure they apply when making a suture or pushing aside a bit of tissue. Sofie consists of a master/slave robotics setup, as well as joysticks and a surgeon's control panel. Although Sofie is not commercially available system yet, it is expected that Sofie will appear on the market in 2016 and will be attractively priced and cost much less than currently available technology that does not include the tactile capability.
The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System
“The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body. Developed by Accuray, CyberKnife uses continual image guidance technology and computer controlled robotic mobility to automatically track, detect, and correct tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment, according to the vendor. The CyberKnifesystem precisely delivers high-dose radiation, reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and eliminating the need for invasive head or body stabilization frames. As a result, recovery rates are shorter and costs are lowered, the vendor said. Typically, patients require five or fewer visits - often to smaller medical facilities, such as the CyberKnife Center of Miami, because the equipment's comparatively lower cost makes it affordable for smaller providers” (Alison, 2011 January 27, para. 5).
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Remote Presence RP-7 robot
Remote Presence RP-7 robot is a full-featured remote presence platform for multiple medical specialties that allows
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Sensory Motor Systems Lab's Lokomat
People may be unable to walk and turn to intensive gait rehabilitation after suffering a stroke, traumatic brain injury or other harm to the central nervous system. Developed at the Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, the Lokomatuse automates treadmill training so that it offers patients longer and more frequent sessions which result in a faster and improved recovery to mobility, according to Professor Robert Riener (Alison, 2011 January 27, para. 10).
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IntelliFill i.v.
IntelliFill i.v. is designed to automate hospital pharmacies' intravenous drug preparation process, created by Baxa. Bar code scanning, vision systems and weight confirmation are three steps that IntelliFill i.v uses to identify final products so that it causes minimum medication errors. The robot-based system prepares the final intravenous products in a syringe instead of an IV bag hence long-term hospital cost savings. |
Simroid robot-based patients
Dental students can learn to clean teeth, mount crowns or drill for fillings using Simroid robot-based patients. Families of robots ranging from faux pregnant women to elderly men needing knee replacements are used to train fellow students who pursue careers as physicians and surgeons to test if the pain is endurable enough to have another round of surgery.