The Growing Role of Robots in Medicine

With technology becoming more and more prominent in the healthcare industry with every passing year, it’s only a matter of time before the majority of medical procedures are handled remotely or with the help of artificial intelligence. The speed at which medical technology is being developed is truly remarkable, and there are many applications for using robotics in healthcare. Let’s take a look at the growing role of robots in medicine and how they are being used to improve the healthcare industry.

Robotic Exoskeletons

One of the more inspiring applications of robots in medicine is robotic exoskeletons. This technology is being used to help correct malformations, assist with rehabilitation, and even helps paralyzed people learn how to walk again. Patients are fitted with these wearable robotic units which are controlled by computers. The intriguing thing about robotic exoskeletons is that they currently operate with user inputs and pre-determined movements, but in the near future it’s not out of the question to anticipate exoskeletons that are integrated with the human brain.

Surgical Assistants

Performing surgery is one of the most stressful jobs in the medical world. The margin for error is extremely slim, as one slip-up can mean life or death for patients. That’s why robotics is increasingly finding its way into the operating room. With robotic surgical assistants, surgeons can receive help during the operations and reduce their chances of error. In the future, there’s a good chance that entire procedures will be operated by robotics. This is a fascinating development that could end up saving lives and forever improving the quality of surgical care.

Sanitation Robots

With the rise of the global pandemic, there has never been a bigger need for technology that helps with disinfecting and sanitizing. Robots were being used to deal with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and deadly viruses prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, and now medical professionals are relying on sanitation robots more than ever. These robots use UV light and hydrogen peroxide to eliminate infectious bacteria and disinfect entire rooms within mere minutes. The applications for this robotic technology are both practical and efficient, especially in today’s world.

Medical Device Packaging

Prior to the recent developments in robotics, many of the repetitive and monotonous tasks in the healthcare world were handled by humans. Some of these tasks presented safety risks that potentially put humans directly in harm’s way. Now, robots handle tasks like moving heavy boxes or packaging medical devices so that humans can focus on other value-added activities and reduce their exposure to safety risks. Packaging medical devices using robots also makes a lot of sense because the robots are able to handle tasks like sterilization without the risk of contaminating the products. Perhaps the best reason to used robots for medical device packaging is due to their efficiency which can increase production levels and positively impact a company’s bottom line.

Robotics Are Here to Stay

The growing role of robotics in medicine tells us that this revolutionary technology is here to stay. While each of the applications of robotics in healthcare mentioned above is changing the way the healthcare world functions, many believe that this technology still has massive room to grow. It is truly fascinating to consider where robotics in medicine will be in the next decade and beyond.