According to a study on Robotics in Healthcare, “Robotics for Medicine and Healthcare is considered the domain of systems able to perform coordinated mechatronic actions (force or movement exertions) on the basis of processing of information acquired through sensor technology, with the aim to support the functioning of impaired individuals, rehabilitation of patients, care and medical intervention of patients and also to support individuals in prevention programmes”.

Robotics in healthcare has been gaining momentum in the last few years. From the first robotic surgical assistant, more than a decade ago to new research today, the advancement of robotics in healthcare is advancing exponentially. The Da Vinci Surgical System was the first robotic assistant approved by the FDA to perform surgical procedures in 2000. According to a report by McNickle(2014), the system had conducted more than 20,000 surgeries. Since then, researchers have developed a number of innovative advancements in medical robotics, designed to improve the quality of care, assist with various therapies, and deliver direct patient care.

Robotics in Healthcare is driven by the expectation that robots will be able to play a key role in helping societies cope with big challenges like high healthcare costs, low efficiency of procedures and processes, and inconsistent quality of healthcare in the next decades. According to a recent report from Research & Markets, the global medical robots market is expected to reach USD 20.56 billion by 2022 from USD 6.36 billion in 2016 at a CAGR of 21.6% during the forecast period.

The e-Health action plan is a plan that governments are following in order to link devices, technologies, and patients to maintain an online record of patient data. This plan is working towards the increase of quality, access, and efficiency of the healthcare system by providing preventive healthcare rather than reactive care. This has made robotics an important node in the healthcare network.

Robots You Know About

Research scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology recently developed a way to give robots a sense of touch by using artificial skin. This can drastically improve the lives of people with disabilities. The ability of a robot to sense the pressure is a crucial advancement in the ability of robots to deliver point care to humans. At the moment, the artificial skin is being tested on a robotic arm using multiple sensors to transmit information to a computer to determine how much pressure the robot should exert when in contact with humans. This will help the researchers to program the robots to deliver the right amount of pressure when touching humans.

Robotic assistants also help in monitoring a patient’s vitals and alert the nurses when there is a need for them to physically monitor the patient. This allows the nurses to monitor and manage several patients simultaneously. These robots also automatically enter information into the patient’s Electronic Health Record(EHR). Recently, robotic carts were seen moving through hospital corridors carrying supplies. They are also assisting in surgery, allowing doctors to conduct surgery with precision through a tiny incision instead of an inch-long incision.

Robots are being seen in various fields within the healthcare industry, helping doctors and nurses improve the quality of healthcare.

What to Expect in the Future

Robotics in healthcare has entered many areas where they directly affect patient care. In the future, we can expect robots to be used to disinfect patient rooms and operating theatres, reducing the risks for patients and medical personnel, especially the ones that work in laboratories to take samples and then to transport, analyze, and store them. The robotic lab assistant will also be able to help in taking a blood sample as they can locate the vein/nerve vessel and draw blood with less pain and anxiety for the patient. They can also prepare and dispense medications in pharmacological labs. In larger facilities, robotic carts will be seen carrying bed linens and even meals from floor to floor, riding elevators and maneuvering through automatic doors. There are also “gears and wires” robotic assistants that help paraplegics move and can administer physical therapy.

The rise of robotics in healthcare doesn’t mean that there will be a loss of jobs for humans. Robots are being developed to improve the quality and efficiency of the current healthcare system. Robotics is and will be providing assistance to better processes like lab tests and surgical procedure. It will be exciting to see what more can robotics do to better the existing healthcare.