how AI is helping in surgery

Here are some ways AI is helping in surgery:

Preoperative planning: AI techniques are used to analyze medical records and imaging to plan the surgical procedure.

Intraoperative guidance: AI techniques are used to provide real-time guidance during surgery, helping in decision-making and minimizing the risk of complications.

Surgical robotics: AI techniques are used to boost the capability of surgical robotic systems in perceiving complex in vivo environments.

Risk stratification: AI is used for risk stratification, genomics, imaging, diagnosis, precision medicine, and drug discovery.

However, there are still major challenges in the future development of AI in surgery, such as the need for more data, better algorithms, and more robust validation.

surgical robots examples

Vicarious Surgical’s Robotic System: This system equips surgeons with a console and a robot with tiny human-like arms for more precise operations.

Fitted with 28 sensors per arm, the company’s robot imitates surgeon’s movements and displays impressive rotational capabilities.

Outfitted with a camera, Vicarious Surgical’s robot allows surgeons to get a better look at a patient’s anatomy while making incisions as small as a centimeter for minimally invasive procedure .

Intuitive’s Da Vinci Platform: This platform is a leading robot within the medical robot niche. It is made up of interconnected systems, software, and medical instruments.

The platform compiles analytics for teams to study, so they can make their procedures more effective and deliver a higher-quality patient experience.

Titan Medical’s SPORT Surgical System: This system is designed to perform minimally invasive surgery. It is equipped with a 3D high-definition vision system and multi-articulating instruments that bend and rotate beyond the human wrist.

The system also has a surgeon workstation that provides an ergonomic interface to control the instruments.

Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System: This system is used in spine surgery. It provides real-time imaging feedback to the surgeon, allowing for more precise placement of screws and implants. The system also reduces the amount of radiation exposure to the patient and the surgical team

benefits of using surgical robots

Surgical robots have several benefits over traditional surgery, including:

Less invasive: Robotic surgery is minimally invasive, which means that the incisions made are smaller than those made in traditional surgery. This results in less blood loss, less pain, and a shorter recovery time.

Higher precision: Robotic surgery allows for greater precision and accuracy than traditional surgery. The robotic arms can move in ways that human hands cannot, allowing for more precise movements and better outcomes.

Better visualization: Robotic surgery provides better visualization of the surgical site than traditional surgery. The surgeon can see the surgical site in 3D and in high definition, which allows for better decision-making and more accurate surgery.

Shorter hospital stays: Patients who undergo robotic surgery typically have shorter hospital stays than those who undergo traditional surgery. This is because robotic surgery is less invasive and requires less recovery time.

Reduced risk of complications: Robotic surgery has a lower risk of complications than traditional surgery. This is because the robotic arms are more precise and can avoid damaging surrounding tissue.

limitations of surgical robots

While surgical robots have several benefits over traditional surgery, there are still some limitations to their use. For example, surgical robots are not suitable for all types of surgeries. Some surgeries that are difficult to perform with robots include:

Emergency surgeries: Surgical robots are not ideal for emergency surgeries, as they require time to set up and calibrate.

Surgeries requiring tactile feedback: Surgeons rely on tactile feedback to determine the amount of force they are applying during surgery. This feedback is not available with robotic surgery.

Surgeries requiring a high degree of flexibility: Surgical robots are not as flexible as human hands, which can make them unsuitable for certain types of surgeries.

Surgeries requiring a high degree of precision: While surgical robots are more precise than human hands, they are not perfect. Some surgeries require a higher degree of precision than robotic surgery can provide.

Surgeries requiring a high degree of dexterity: Surgical robots are not as dexterous as human hands, which can make them unsuitable for certain types of surgeries

how surgical robots work

Mechanical arms: Surgical robots use mechanical arms to carry out operations. These arms are equipped with surgical tools and cameras, and can be controlled by the surgeon from a console nearby.

High-definition 3D camera: A camera is attached to one of the robotic arms, which provides a high-definition 3D view of the surgical site.

Tiny tools: The other arms of the robot grip tiny tools that the surgeon uses during surgery. The surgeon can control the arms and tools with great precision, allowing for more accurate and less invasive surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery: Robotic surgery is generally associated with minimally-invasive surgery, which means that procedures are performed by passing instruments through minor incisions. This results in less blood loss, less pain, and a shorter recovery time.

Real-time feedback: During surgery, the surgeon can see the surgical site in 3D and in high definition, which allows for better decision-making and more accurate surgery. The robotic system also provides real-time feedback to the surgeon, allowing for greater precision and safety.