Medical Robots and its Applications

Ocean Journal of Engineering Studies and Research

Editorial Article

Ocean J of Engineering Studies & Research (OJESR), |Volume 1|Issue 1|

Manu Mitra

Alumnus with Electrical Engineering Department, University of Bridgeport, 126 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT -

06604, USA

ABSTRACT

Medical Robots are machines that are operated in medical sciences. There are few classifications for medical

robotics such as assistive robots, robots imitating human. Comparatively, medical robots offer wide range of

advantages, for example they are flexible and can be programmed to perform multiple tasks, they are more adaptable

and cost effective. Further, they eliminate human fatigue. A fully autonomous robot acquires and processes

information and performs specific physical action. Few medical robots are reviewed.

KEYWORDS: Medical; Medical Robots; Applications; Autonomous.

Citation: Manu Mitra. Medical Robots and its applications. Oce J Eng Stud Res. 2021;1(1):1-5.

Received Date: 22 September, 2021; Accepted Date: 9 October, 2021; Published Date: 13 October, 2021

Corresponding author: Manu Mitra, Alumnus with Electrical Engineering Department, University of Bridgeport,

126 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT – 06604, USA.

4.0 International), as described by http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

MEDICAL ROBOTIC HAND

Medical Robotic hand could allow physicians and surgeons to diagnose accurately and treat people. Scientist

designed medical robotic hand and a smart electronic skin capable of evaluating vital diagnostic data using an

advanced invention of rubbery semiconductor with high carrier mobility.

Associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Houston and corresponding author for the work

concluded that semiconductor rubbery material can be effortlessly scaled for manufacturing based on the assembly

at the interface of water and air. Scientist confirmed that production is not that complicated. A commercially semi-

conductor material is liquefied in a solution and dropped in water, where it spreads, and the chemical solvent

evaporates form the solution which results in enhanced semi-conductor properties.

Interfacial assembly and the rubbery electronic devices suggest a pathway leading to soft, stretchy rubbery

electronics and integrated systems that imitates the mechanical softness of biological tissues that is suitable for a

variety of emerging applications.

[1,2]

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Ocean J of Engineering Studies & Research (OJESR), |Volume 1|Issue 1|

MEDICAL ROBOTS HELP TO NAVIGATE EMERGENCY ROOMS

Figure 1: Illustrates Robot checking pulse of the patient.

[3]

Researchers created more precise navigation system which allows robots to navigate demanding clinical

environments in emergency and as well as general departments more specifically. Scientist also created an open

source datasets videos to assist and train robotic navigation.

Scientists at University of California, San Diego built a navigation system which is called Safety Critical Deep Q-

Network (Safe DQN) algorithm that takes into the system. It determines that how many individuals are clustered

together in a space and how quickly and abruptly these people are moving. This method was invented based on the

observations of clinicians conducted in the emergency department. When patient’s state worsens, team immediately

rucks around them to render aid. The navigation system guides the robots to move around these clustered groups of

people.

Scientists then tested their algorithm in a simulation environment and then compared its performance to other state

of art robotic navigation systems (Figure 1). The results for Safe DQN system generated were efficient and safe in

most of the cases. This algorithm can be also used outside of emergency department for an instance, search and

rescue missions.

[4]

ROBOTIC HEART VALVE SURGERY

Scientists and Researchers from New York University Medical Center declared the first minimally invasive robotic

heart valve surgery was completed successfully in United States. They used Robotic Surgical System to perform

minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

This robotic technology provides an operative field of view with ten to fifteen times magnification which is a

significant increase over the standard surgical loops which can only provide three to four times magnification.

This robot also has increased safety procedure by allowing the surgeon to control the endoscope and surgical

instruments in real time from the workstation instead of standing throughout long hours and complex procedure. The

system interface also has the capability to provide precise needle placement which is critical to the success of heart

surgery (Figure 2).

Ocean Journal of Engineering Studies and Research

Editorial Article

Ocean J of Engineering Studies & Research (OJESR), |Volume 1|Issue 1|

While seated at workstation few feet away from the patient, surgeon controls three robotic arms on the operating

table. While viewing a video monitor to view the operative site, surgeon manipulates conventional minimally

invasive device as robots replicates these movements with the instrument tips at the operative site. Surgeon also

have the capability to move endoscope using simple voice commands to directly control the visualization during a

procedure.

[5]

Figure 2: Illustrates Robotic Cardiac Surgery.

[6]

MAGNETIC MILLIROBOTS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

Researchers to advance minimally invasive medical treatments; they proposed tiny robots which is driven by

magnetic potential energy from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners.

Assistant Professor of electrical and computer engineering at University of Houston confirmed that potential

technology can be used to treat hydrocephalus and other conditions allowing surgeons to avoid current treatments

that requires cutting through the skull to implant pressure relieving shunts. It entails a method for generating

significant impulsive forces that can be used to penetrate tissue – it is used to send tiny maneuverable robotic

components to desired location and triggering the conversion of magnetic potential energy into kinetic energy to

penetrate tissue. Hydrocephalus among other conditions is a candidate for correction by the millirobots because the

ventricles are fluid-filled and are connected to the spinal canal. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner,

scientists plotted directions on high quality brain images hacking the scanner to harness the MRI’s own magnetic

field to push mini robots. The team also illustrated use of magnetic forces to activate needle-biopsy robots and to

walk robots around the MRI.

[7]

SOFT ROBOTS TO DELIVER MEDICAL TREATMENT

Scientists found a method to send very small and soft robots into humans, opening pathways to less invasive

surgeries and multiple ways to deliver treatments for conditions ranging from stomach cancer, colon polyps to aortic

artery blockages.

In this technique experts uses ancient Japanese practice of origami. In this technique, physician use magnetic fields

Ocean Journal of Engineering Studies and Research                                      
Editorial Article                                      
 
Ocean J of Engineering Studies & Research (OJESR), |Volume 1|Issue 1| 
to steer soft robot inside the body allowing medications and treatments to the places that need them. Soft robots are 
made of magnetic polymer – a soft compound embedded with magnetic elements that can be controlled remotely. 
Robotic delivery of medical treatment is not a new technique but most of previous designs use traditional robots that 
are made  of either hard or stiff materials. In this approach  soft robot can  be used  to transport multiple medical 
treatment selectively based on the independently controlled packing and unpacking of the origami units (Figure 3). It 
allows the material when it reaches the location and unfold the robot for the treatment.
[8,9]
 
 
 
                                           Figure 3: Illustrates Magnetic particle options commonly  
                                                           used for magnetic soft composites. 
 
(a) Magnetic flux density B with respect to magnetic field H curves of soft-magnetic and hard-magnetic particles. 
(b) The actuation mechanism of the soft-magnetic composites. 
(c) The actuation mechanism of the hard-magnetic composite
[10] 
 
REFERENCES 
 
1.  Guan YS, Thukral A, Zhang S, Sim K, Wang X, Zhang Y, et al. Air/water Interfacial Assembled Rubbery 
Semiconducting Nanofilm for Fully Rubbery Integrated Electronics. Sci Adv. 2020:6(38). 
2.  University  of  Houston.  Medical  Robotic  Hand?  Rubbery  Semiconductor  Makes  it  Possible:  Rubbery 
Electronics Offer Promise for New Applications. Sci Dai. 2021. 
3.  Image. https://idtxs3.imgix.net/si/40000/7E/5E.jpg?w=800.  2021. 
4.  University of California - San Diego. This System Helps Robots Better Navigate Emergency Rooms. Sci Dai. 
2021. 
5.  New York University Medical  Center and School Of Medicine. A First in Robotic Heart Valve Surgery. Sci 
Dai. 2000. 
6.  Robotic cardiac surgery. 2021. 
7.  Medical Millirobots Offer Hope for Less-Invasive Surgeries. Univ of Houst. Sci Dai. 2015. 

Ocean Journal of Engineering Studies and Research

Editorial Article

Ocean J of Engineering Studies & Research (OJESR), |Volume 1|Issue 1|

8. Novelino LS, Ze Q, Wu S, Paulino GH, Zhao R. 2020. Untethered Control of Functional Origami Microrobots

with Distributed Actuation. Pro of the Nat Acad of Sci. 2020:117(39):24096-24101.

9. Ohio State University. Soft Robots, Rigami Combine for Potential Way to Deliver Medical Treatments.

Magnetic Fields Allow for Wireless, Faster, Less Invasive Delivery, Study Finds. Sci Dai.2021.

10. Shuai Wu. Multifunct Mater. 2020.