A medical robot has the potential to augment human capabilities in unprecedented ways. Surgical procedures like cardiac surgery and laparoscopic surgery can benefit from the aid of medical robots, but their benefits don’t just stop there.
The field of medical robotics goes far beyond the use of a surgical robot to improve success rates and minimize errors. New robotic systems are constantly being developed to help with other critical medical tasks that can ultimately have a positive impact on patient care.
Thanks to the use of Machine Learning tools and software, medical robots have the potential to revolutionize medicine as we know it. New technology-driven medical devices can help doctors and medical staff perform a broad range of tasks in innovative ways.
This post discusses the general use cases of medical robots and some of the key aspects you need to consider if you are planning to build one. In particular, we will focus on the importance of developing the right software that powers this game-changing technology.
The Medical Robot Revolution
Medical robotics is changing how professionals in the medical sciences perform surgical procedures and other critical processes that impact patient care. Robots are nowhere near to replace humans, but they can help perform certain tasks better.
Thanks to advances in technology, medical devices are now capable of enhancing human capabilities to obtain impressive results while minimizing potential errors. By using Machine Learning and other HiTech technologies, robotic systems can improve patient care by minimizing invasive procedures that can harm the human body.
The Da Vinci surgical system is one of the most popular medical robots. It is used to assist doctors through minimally invasive surgery, making it one of the best intuitive surgical tools available in the market. Minimally invasive surgery performed by the Da Vinci system includes laparoscopic surgery, cardiac surgery, and general surgery, to mention a few.
There are many different types of medical robots, which makes it sometimes hard to pin them down to a specific use case. Not all of these robots are like the Da Vinci system, and not all of them are built for minimally invasive surgery. As you can imagine, these robots are very convenient for medical professionals across very different fields.
Let’s take a look at some important details of medical robots and how they work. As mentioned above, it is important to keep in mind that not all robots used in the medical industry are used for surgical procedures.
What are Medical Robots?
In general, any type of robot used in the medical sciences can be considered within the broad spectrum of medical robots. Medical practitioners use MedTech robots to enhance their existing skills, helping reduce the risk of errors.
Medical practitioners with enhanced medical capabilities end up being very convenient for the patient’s body, as most of the time, medical robots, specifically surgical robots, help reduce the risks and healing needed after invasive surgeries. However, this isn’t the only way in which medical robots help improve patient care.
Many medical robots can be classified as telepresence robots. These allow medical practitioners to perform certain tasks without being on-site. By using a fast Internet connection and the right medical devices, medical staff can perform tasks at a distance, making it very convenient for special situations when remoteness is needed.
Other medical robots perform well specific rehabilitation tasks, and some can even be used to disinfect entire places by using ultraviolet lights that can eliminate different types of viruses. Certain robots have the ability to move around in their environment; that is why they receive the name of an autonomous mobile robot. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that some medical robots can even provide doctors with the right surgical instruments thanks to advanced decision algorithms.
Medical Robots: How Do They Work?
Because not all medical robots are the same, they don’t all work in the same way. Depending on the specific use cases they are designed for, they may contain different pieces of equipment.
Luckily, most medical robots depend on some common elements, and the software is one of them. Much of the capabilities of medical robots are defined by the software that powers them. Because of the level of precision needed to perform certain tasks, it is critical that the software of these robots is properly built, and even more importantly, that it is thoroughly tested by professional Quality Assurance engineers.
To guarantee the success of your robot, you will have to first identify its specific use cases. Ideation and discovery workshops can be great for this. These processes will help you understand the technical aspects of your project and the business side of it.
One last aspect that needs to be considered to make your medical robot work correctly is the development process of the software. You don’t just want it to be developed by anyone. Find the right development partner and make sure to validate their experience. Building a medical robot is a great responsibility, and it should not be taken lightly.
