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Robots have invaded the manufacturing industry in the early 1950s, but their entry into the realm of medicine took more than four decades since then. Even though it seems astonishing, people took more time to agree that robotic surgeries are safe and sound. Ever since its emergence, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence are fuelling the use cases of robotic surgery. With researchers looking into more futuristic solutions, 5G and autonomous working systems are anticipated to drive the growth of robotic surgeries in future.

A surgical robot is a self-powered, computer-controlled device that can be programmed to aid in the positioning and manipulation of surgical instruments, enabling the surgeon to carry out more complex tasks. Most of the robotic surgeries of today are carried out with the use of the da Vinci surgical system, a unique set of technologies that include specialised arms for holding instruments and a camera, as well as a magnified screen and a console. Robotic surgery or robot-assisted surgery allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with conventional techniques. Initially developed to perform critical surgeries on the battlefield, robotic surgery has grown to extreme lengths in the past couple of decades. In the modern world, robotic surgeries are becoming one of the most sophisticated tools a surgeon has, allowing for precise, tremor-free surgery with the added benefits of a minimally-invasive approach.

The first surgical robot is traced back to 1994 when the Automated Endoscopic System for Optimal Positioning (AESOP) was approved for clinical use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The surgical robot was equipped with a robotic arm for holding an endoscope with adjustable positioning to ensure a steady view of the operating field during endoscopic surgery. In 1996, further progress with AESOP unravelled a master-slave system called EUS, developed by computer motion. Today, the da Vinci Surgical System, developed by the US Company, Intuitive Surgical, has taken centre stage in the healthcare industry. The company entered the Chinese market in 2008 and made a remarkable stance there. By 2019, 112 surgical robots have been installed and used in more than 110,000 surgical operations, ranging from gastrointestinal and cardiothoracic to hepatobiliary, urologic and gynaecological surgeries. But the digital wind is slowly changing the direction of robotic surgeries. Some of the advantages of robotic surgeries are as follows,

  • Compared to traditional techniques, robotic systems enhance precision, flexibility and control during the operation and allows them to better see the site.
  • Robotic surgeries support minimal invasive techniques. This unveils fewer complications, less pain and blood loss, quicker recovery, less noticeable scars, etc.
  • With the help of the high-resolution camera used during the surgery, the doctor has better access to the area where the operation is performed.

More than all these advantages, robotic surgery is pushed to be the need of the hour. According to the Association of American Medical Colleagues, a healthcare staffing gap is looming on the horizon. It is anticipated that by 2033, an ageing population and accompanying retirements will conspire to create a significant shortfall of anywhere between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians. Emerging trends like 5G and the concept of autonomous systems are triggering the development of robotic surgeries. They are expected to drive the technology towards an enormous future.

 

Role of 5G in robotic surgeries

Network connections play a big role in shaping robotic surgeries. Even though doctors can perform surgeries without latency when they are in the same room, the surgeries of tomorrow will be totally remote, which needs a good internet connection. The cutting-edge solutions installed at the hospitals will have nil usage if the connection falls behind. As a solution, 5G connections will replace these worries. For the first time, doctors have performed the remote 5G brain surgery from over 1,500 miles away. The advanced surgery took place in Beijing when Dr. Ling Zhipei performed it from Sanya City using a computer powered by China Mobile and Huawei’s 5G network. Even though this was the first 5G surgery on a human, operating over the new wireless network was tested on a lab animal in January 2019.

 

Autonomous systems lead robotic surgeries

The concept of autonomous systems is taking the world by storm. Emerging autonomous solutions are invading every industry including healthcare, and especially, robotic surgeries. The lack of experienced healthcare professionals and increasing population is already heading towards doom. Henceforth, it is the right time to adopt autonomous robotic surgeons into the sector. According to The Wall Street Journal, researchers from organisations including Boston Children’s Hospital and John Hopkins University are developing robotic technologies that aim to automate surgical tasks.