Robots Lead To Surgical Breakthroughs

According to medical experts, the future of surgery is bright, though it may soon trade its traditional human touch for a more precise robotic one.

Robotic surgery isn’t itself new, but “Haptic” robots — which draw their name from the Greek word for touch — are taking surgical technology to a new level.

Currently, with traditional robot surgery there’s no sense of touch, meaning surgeons are expected to rely entirely on vision while using the tools.

But we may soon be seeing those days come to a close, and it’s expected to be a change for the better in the medical industry.

Where Haptic robots go beyond existing ones is that they provide a sense of touch for the user, allowing the doctor to be more precise and gentle while using the machine, as well as take on tasks that were previously out of the question.

“What you have is the ability for the surgeon to be much more precise in what they’re doing,” said Paul Gilbert, CEO of robot creator Quanser Inc.

“This results in lower blood loss, reduced pain, the patient can get better quicker.”

There are a variety of Haptic devices, including ones that help administer needles for epidurals and similar procedures. The machines’ sensitivity is so great, it can simulate the skin’s resistance to an injection as well as the moment it’s eventually punctured.

And the versatility should only grow as the technology, which is made in Canada , is also being used to develop rehab programs for stroke patients.

But regardless of the affliction, it might not be long before one of these machines is working on you. Inventors predict the Haptic robots will be in operating rooms everywhere in fewer than five years.