How Robotics Can Help Support Medical Innovations

Health robotics are continuing to evolve alongside advancements in machine learning, computer vision, data analytics, and other technologies. Robots of all types will continue to evolve to complete tasks autonomously, accurately, and efficiently. In this article, we will discuss the role of robotics in medical innovation.

Introduction

Robots in the medical field are changing how surgeries are performed, streamlining supply delivery and disinfection, and allowing providers to focus on engaging with and caring for patients. Robotics in medical innovation is changing the landscape of the healthcare industry. Robots are now used in the operating room and clinical settings for supporting healthcare workers and enhancing patient care. For example, clinics and hospitals are deploying robots for a much wider range of tasks to help in reducing exposure to pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Streamlining workflows and risk reduction offered by medical robotics provide value in many areas. For example, robots can independently clean and prepare patient rooms, supporting limited person-to-person contact in infectious disease wards. Robots with AI-powered medicine identifier software mitigate the time it takes to identify, match, and distribute medicine to patients in hospitals and clinics.

Robotics in medical innovation, as technologies are evolving and robots will function more autonomously, ultimately performing certain tasks entirely on their own. As a result, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers will be able to spend more time offering direct patient care.

Benefits of Robotics in Healthcare

Incorporating robotics in the medical field is enabling a high level of patient care, efficient processes in clinical settings, and a safer environment for patients and healthcare providers. Let us check out the benefits of robotics in medical innovation.

High-Quality Patient Care

Medical robots are helping in supporting minimally invasive procedures, customized and frequent monitoring for patients with intelligent therapeutics, chronic diseases, and social engagement for elderly patients. In addition, as robots lessen workloads, nurses and other caregivers can provide patients with more empathy and human interaction, which can encourage long-term well-being.

Streamlined Clinical Workflows

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) simplify routine tasks, decrease the physical demands on human workers, and make sure of more consistent processes. These robots can address employee shortages and encounters by keeping a record of inventory and placing timely orders to facilitate making sure supplies, equipment, and medication are in stock where they are required. Cleaning and disinfection AMRs allow hospital rooms to be sanitized and ready for incoming patients very quickly, enabling workers to focus on patient-centric, value-driven work.

Safe Work Environment

To help in keeping healthcare workers safe, AMRs are used for transporting supplies and linens in hospitals where pathogen exposure is a risk. Cleaning and disinfection robots limit pathogen exposure all while helping in reducing hospital acquired infections (HAIs)—and hundreds of healthcare facilities are already incorporating them1. Social robots, which is a type of AMR, also facilitate heavy liftings, such as moving beds or patients, which decreases physical strain on healthcare workers. Apart from streamlining healthcare workers, robotics in medical innovation also create a safer work environment, which is equally beneficial for both healthcare providers and patients.

Modular Robots

Modular robots help in enhancing other systems and can be configured to perform multiple functions. In the field of healthcare, these include therapeutic exoskeleton robots and prosthetic robotic arms and legs.

Therapeutic robots are able to help with rehabilitation after strokes, paralysis, or traumatic brain injuries or with impairments, that are a result of multiple sclerosis. A wheelchair-mounted robotic arm currently being built by Intel and Accenture is aiming to assist patients with spinal injuries in performing daily tasks. Furthermore, when robots are equipped with AI and depth cameras, they are able to monitor a patient's form as they go through prescribed exercises, also counting degrees of motion in different positions as well as track progress more precisely than the human eye. Moreover, they can also interact with patients to offer coaching and encouragement.

Autonomous Mobile Robots

Healthcare organizations are often relying on AMRs because of their ability to support critical needs such as telepresence, disinfection, and delivery of medication and medical supplies, making safe environments while freeing up staff to spend more time with patients. When enabled with light detection and ranging (LiDAR), visual computing, or mapping potential, AMRs can self-navigate to patients in exam or hospital rooms, enabling clinicians to interact from afar. If an AMR is powered by a remote specialist or another worker, it can accompany doctors as they make hospital rounds, enabling a specialist for contributing through an on-screen consultation regarding patient care and diagnostics.

Final Thoughts

Medical robots are making the healing process quicker, safer, and smarter, for caretakers and patients alike. For nurses and healthcare units, medical robots reduce stress and staffing shortages. For patients, the use of robotics in medical innovations is offering companionship, mobility, and personalized care.

Whereas, robotics is an industry in a constant state of evolution. This is only the beginning for medical robots, and future new innovations are sure to revolutionize the healthcare sector even further by making intuitive healing built on cutting-edge technology.