From the simplification of complex surgical processes to the disinfection of an operating room; passing through automated mechanisms for patient care, the relationship between technology and health can be highly advantageous.

Robotic arms to assist in operations by remote control are nothing new: their creation dates back to 1980. It consists of assisting surgeons in micro procedures through minimally invasive incisions. Since then the improvements have been continuous. 

In recent years, artificial intelligence has made it possible to incorporate new capabilities such as image recognition to detect any unforeseen anomaly or the analysis of large volumes of data to suggest the procedure that implies the greatest probability of success.

Other key advances were technologies such as computerized vision or 3D images (to move around the body avoiding collateral damage), and advances in telecommunications, allowing images to be shared in real time with professionals from anywhere in the world.

More effective care

Although it may be the application that has been talked about the most in recent years, it is far from being the only one. Some clinics and hospitals around the world are beginning to test bots capable of identifying and distributing – based on artificial intelligence algorithms – medicine among patients. This allows nurses to focus on the human side of their work, generating more empathetic and personalized attention, thanks to not having to deal with this task, which consumes an enormous amount of time.

Also thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, robots are capable of collaborating in the personalized monitoring of outpatients, providing support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with high efficiency and direct contact with specialized professionals in case any special contribution is needed.

Therapeutic help and smart prosthetics

There are specific robots capable of collaborating in the rehabilitation of complex conditions such as paralysis or serious brain injuries. This is possible thanks to artificial intelligence and depth cameras that can «understand» a patient’s postural improvements and assess progress with great precision.

Another technology that has been successfully tested is the one related to intelligent prostheses: artificial elements that partially or totally supply the functions of an amputated limb or limbs with some type of problem. These elements are capable of reading the signals that the brain sends to the muscles to generate the corresponding movements.

More hygiene, less risks

The pandemic motivated the creativity of many organizations in the health industry, which began to deploy smart devices to fulfill different missions, even in tasks that were initially very far from medical sciences.

For example, they are an effective help to clean rooms or disinfect spaces. This function is essential to reduce risks, since this limits the contacts between the staff in charge of maintenance and patients with potential contagious diseases.

There are many options for automating routine tasks: from inventory tracking to the transportation of supplies in areas where exposure to contagion represents a high risk, through those with the ability to lift and move heavy objects, avoiding accidents among employees.

Precision, efficiency, uninterrupted capacity to work… Medical robotics is still in full development and has a lot of room to grow and evolve.