Robotic Advancements in the Healthcare Industry

The last decade has seen numerous technological advancements in the field of robotics. Robots are no longer confined to university labs and research facilities; instead, they are being designed and programmed for use in the real world at an increasing rate. Given the usefulness they have already demonstrated in the medical field, robots are now being specifically developed for healthcare assistance both in the hospital and at home.

Hospital Healthcare

As Teachers

There is little room for error in the field of medicine. As such, medical schools have begun employing robots to teach students important healthcare lessons. By interacting with robots programmed to imitate the discomfort and pain felt by real patients, medical students can gain valuable experience regarding diagnoses and treatment. Since these “live” robots can mimic human feelings, they can also help soon-to-be doctors improve on their bedside manner when dealing with sensitive patients.

As Surgeons

Surgeons are now able to utilize robots for assistance during surgery. Robots can make extremely precise incisions, allowing doctors to take on complicated surgeries that were previously impossible. These nifty surgical assistants can make incisions smaller than anything the human hand is capable of doing. Smaller incisions mean shorter surgeries, resulting in a better prognosis for patients, as well as in reduced costs and shorter hospital

HAL-5

Robots such as the Hybrid Assistive Limb, fondly known as HAL-5, can provide assistance to the elderly in numerous regards. They can complete household chores and perform heavy lifting, thereby reducing the chance of injury in older patients living at home. Because these robots are able to provide patient care, safety, comfort and assistance in the home, patients will no longer be confined to live out their days in hospitals and nursing homes.

the Da Vinci Si HD Surgical System

CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System

This system is known for being an alternative to surgery. Its is used when a patient needs surgery  to removed both cancerous and non-cancerous . This CyberKnife model is able to both locate and follow a tumor that is on the move, thanks to its system of visual guidance.When it’s time to employ the cyber knife, the system zaps the tumors with high doses of radiation; by doing so, there is less damage to the healthy tissue. It also completely does away with traditional practice such as using body-stabilization frames.In addition to its awesome name, this device shortens recovery time and is less costly! yay!

(is it just be, or does “cyber knife” sound like some long lost ancient article that must master space travel.)

Healthcare at Home

As Caretakers

In addition to their use in hospitals, personal healthcare robots are being designed to serve as “nurses,” monitoring and caring for patients in their homes. Specialized robots, such as the a Nursebot, are programmed to take care of patients with dementia. Not only do these robots ensure the patient’s safety but also provide comfort to their patients, should they become frightened or disoriented.

Enough about Healthcare robotics. They’re still cool, but after reading about the same procedure that each one does “different

Wait, wait… let’s briefly pause to admire that creepy machine called the Remote Prescence RP&. *bows head*

OK! The COOL STUFF!

I must begin by addressing an important issue: Cat Robots V. Dog Robots

I searched for new information on Japan’s latest RoboDog named AIBO (or Arifical Intellegence roBOt.) Unfortunately for cat-lovers, these robo puppies will likely multiple faster than the Fibbonachi sequence and will stage a coup to overthrow that saintly-looking wood builder fro… Jerusalem.

About the dogs. The robo-pups quickly recognize the sound of your voice, so the more you interact with her, the more personable she’ll become. Soon, she’ll even be showing off her new tricks for everyone to see. If you think this is a lot, check out the dog’s website for even more.

Here’s a picture of puppy:

About the Cats I Could Find

On Japanese Robotic cats, this was all I could find. Seriously. The video is one of those “must watch” kind of things. I think…

SnackBot Pearl

Are you in the mood from a snack? Unless your blind, then chances are you just nodded. NOT TO WORRY USA! The brilliant and hungry minds at U. of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon came up with a great solution: Build a robot to fetch then snacks. This is when the idea for the SnackBot took off. Tens years ago, university students t0ok a Nursebot and changed her into a sweet little snack lady named Pearl. When People first began her rounds at the nursing room, her offerings merely consisted of taking snacks around to the old folks in the nursing home , having never imagined that they’d see a robot in their lifetime, Can you imagine how strange that experience was for them that first daye?

Just recently, the studies at these universities decided that ol’ Pearl was due for an upgrade. After some fine tuning, Pearl was no longer a lowly snack women. Instead, she not had the power to use not only verbal communication when talking to her customers, but she had picked up on nonverbal communication as well. In addition to her new super-bot ability, she has a touch screen interface with which she can interact, she has cameras to help record her travels and a laser range finder… so some purpose? idk. People 2.0 can use her new abilities in conducting research navigation, route planning and finally an optimatal  division system that allows her to remember the faces of her everyday coworkers. Most of all, she just wants to assist her users with their everyday lives.