Robotics

Learn how robotics is impacting Medtech and the healthcare industry

Medical robotics applications in healthcare are expanding in several fields, including care robots, exoskeletons, and hospital robots. Over 250,000 people die in the United States each year due to medical mistakes, some of which are possibly preventable. Surgeons now have more precise control over various treatments because of surgical methods and technology developments. For example, robotics can improve a surgeon's accuracy by utilising enlarged 3D high-definition vision and components that attach to a surgeon's wrists and hands. The result is fewer intrusive operations, shorter hospital stays, and long-term cost reductions.

The industry constantly evolves and expands, with no signs of slowing down. The medical robots market is expected to be worth US$10.6 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.1% through 2030. Technological advancements drive this constant expansion as new and improved processes and products join the market each year. These innovations, from robotic catheter control systems to lab assistants and beyond, are positioned to continue enhancing patient care worldwide.

For decades, robotic technology has been in use. The first robots joined the medical industry as assisting surgeons in the 1980s, and radiation was introduced in the 1990s. While these technologies have improved, they are still used in various applications such as exoskeletons, nursing, prosthetics, etc. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 increased the need for cleanliness and prompt healthcare with little exposure. Robots can use UV light to help sanitize public and clinical environments, minimizing disease transmission. Travel restrictions have increased the demand for remote care, which involves diagnosing and monitoring patients digitally without sacrificing quality.

Role of Robotics in the World of Medical Devices

The uses and advantages of robots in the medical device industry are many and expanding. Here are some new applications for robots.

Radiotherapy and Robotic Surgery

In this industry, the advantages of robots are life-changing. Surgical robots can help surgeons by holding instruments firmly and utilizing them precisely with various attachments and disposable accessories. They may relocate a patient during radiation without requiring anybody to enter the room, lowering overall process time.

Hospital Robots

Like those used in labs, nursing robots may do dull or repetitive chores, freeing physicians and nurses to perform more human-centric jobs. These robots can assist with mundane duties like drawing blood, sanitizing rooms, collecting vital signs, lifting and moving patients, and delivering medicines and lab materials. This help enhances employee morale and lowers turnover.

Prosthetics

Robotic appendages have progressed from simple activities like gripping and walking to more complicated skills like precise finger manipulation, squatting, or jumping. Artificial limbs not only improve the quality of life for individuals who use them, but they can also help patients regain motor function. Mind-controlled robotics is even in development.

Laboratory

Using robots in laboratory settings, like with any other process, eliminates human error, speeds up procedures, and removes repetitive chores from workers' queues, allowing them to focus on other priorities. As a consequence, employee satisfaction has grown while total expenditures have decreased. Furthermore, lab robots may undertake jobs that may be hazardous to people, such as those involving toxic chemicals.

Social Assistance

Social robots, also called care robots, specialize in satisfying the emotional needs of patients, particularly those who are old or solitary. These robots may provide companionship by conversing and playing games while monitoring for distress signals and responding to cries for aid. They help patients get out of bed, monitor their temperature, and remind them to take their prescriptions. This field of medical equipment is predicted to expand further in countries such as Japan, where the senior population is increasing while the number of carers is decreasing.

Exoskeletons and Rehabilitation

Exoskeletons can give essential therapy to people recuperating from surgery or living with a handicap. This robot can detect electric pulses in a person's body, allowing muscle-rebuilding action. They have been demonstrated to reduce the time for physical therapists, allowing them to help more individuals and increase patients' mental well-being, contributing to a faster recovery.