The pandemic was a catalyst for growing popular interest in robotics, and for shining a spotlight on the skilled labour shortages in the healthcare industry. Five years later, robots are highly viable for medical applications of all types.
Designs satisfying these use cases may take the form of professional grade autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs), automated testing stations and patient-support systems to complement the most sophisticated surgery robotics in hospitals and other medical-treatment settings.
Surgical robotics continue to lead the increased automation of the medical field – for assisting surgeons and increasingly leveraging the benefits of artificial intelligence and machine learning to gain real-time feedback, precision and efficiency during surgical procedures, augment training opportunities for medical staff and more.
A report by Fortune Business Insights predicts the surgical-robot market will reach nearly $6.8 billion by 2026; it’s no wonder, as computer assist systems are well-proven to help surgeons enhance patient outcomes with magnified images and precise end-effector movements not subject to fatigue, tremors, or distractions.
The emergence of medical robotics
Robotic designs to satisfy medical applications are also taking the form of household appliances designed to improve the quality of life for those who wish to maintain mobility and independence via age-in-place approaches while navigating medical issues.
It’s worth noting that some robotics designs are adapting several of the technological advancements used in home security, including video for health-assist robotics that extend Internet of Things (IoT), home automation and system interoperability. For example, some underlying IoT technologies are now being employed to help those aging in place to adhere to their often-complicated medication schedules and medications.
Another emerging type of medical robotics – that of exoskeletons – has come to represent the convergence of prosthetics, orthotics and wearables to help both the elderly and those on-the-job in warehouses aiming to avoid injury during strenuous manual tasks. Additionally, adaptive technologies are empowering those with medical conditions and injuries that impact mobility. Nearly all include IoT connectivity and sensor arrays for feedback.
These innovations not only enhance personal autonomy and preventive care but also lay the groundwork for more complex applications in professional healthcare settings. With the same foundational technologies – IoT connectivity, sensor integration, and adaptive design – now being refined for use in hospitals, the next frontier of medical robotics is transforming how care is delivered, monitored and managed within clinical institutions.
Medical robots meet real-world needs
In hospitals and other medical facilities, robotics:
- Improve the repeatability of delicate procedures – as in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures and other robot-assisted surgery
- Assist in jobs that are unsafe for caretakers – as in patient lifts and robotic beds to help the immobile from bed to chair or vice versa
- Complement automated systems employing data tracking
- Independently collect and deliver medications as well as lab specimens (leveraging secure patient data)
Such advancements can extend the capabilities of nurses, physicians and hospital cleaning and maintenance staff. They also present opportunities to pre-program predictable and repeatable tasks, as well as leverage information from various hospital systems – to continually improve patient care and support medical-research efforts.
Designing robots for human care and hospital flow
The best medical-robotic designs are informed by experienced hospital personnel as well as other medical professionals and caretakers. This input and a thorough understanding of human anatomy can help robot designers deliver designs of sufficient accuracy and manoeuvrability, whether for goods transport, caregiving, drug delivery, or surgery. Where medical robots rely on IoT data systems for real-time information, their compatibility with existing hospital networks is key.
Medical-robotics engineers, software developers and suppliers must all have extensive knowledge of the best practices associated with the treatment or procedure being motorised or automated. They also need to have a keen understanding of underlying business requirements and viable monetisation approaches for the industry.
Any systems associated with the retention of patient information require secure data management. That applies to both structured data (as held in databases) and unstructured data in text retaining systems. Advanced network integration and analytics capabilities are core to justifying the extra data-management design efforts with predictive and adaptive system behaviour.
Training is just as critical as the tech
Healthcare organisations adopting medical robotics should ensure the technologies are well aligned with caretaker expertise. Further, all hospital staff who will interface with new robotics tools should have upfront and ongoing training programs. Since this technology is evolving so quickly, standard training standards may be lacking – so organisations should seek partners that can recommend and craft training modules. In addition to training on how to safely operate and maintain robotics (where applicable), the instruction should also include procedures for insurance documentation and billing – along with readily accessible manuals and digital refresher modules for hospital staff.
Data to support connected operations
Before full-scale adoption, medical robotics should be evaluated for how they affect patient safety, treatment comfort and outcomes. Results from previous implementations should be studied to quantify patient-recovery improvements and cost reductions.
Medical robotics programs should also be assessed for how they free up existing hospital staff to focus more on patient care – whether in person or remote. Where robotics prove to support a hospital system’s core mission related to quality care, patient satisfaction and efficiency, hospital executives should be involved in communicating those benefits to staff and the local community.
Data visibility and AI can optimise control over equipment even while imparting deep insight into various roboticised procedures. Then equipment connectivity across networks can let hospitals analyse data to assess robot programs’ effectiveness – which is especially useful where hospital systems aim to scale a particular robotics program.
Cohesive data management systems can help multi-site hospital networks as well as standalone hospitals, clinics and surgical centres more efficiently verify satisfaction of government and industry regulations. Sites employing medical robotics are more likely to have unified networks in place, or at least standard approaches to connect separate systems.
Of course, medical robotics require stringent physical security and cybersecurity. This often necessitates tightly restricted and monitored access to robotic actuators, controllers, networks and data storage. Adherence to industry, supplier and government regulations must be strictly satisfied and documented.
Looking ahead: smarter robots, better care
The medical industry’s adoption of robotics has continued unabated for the last decade. Investments in technology will continue to be a priority as aging patients rely more heavily on medical equipment, devices and medication – despite stretched hospital budgets. As a result, robotics can offer long-term operational savings for many routine healthcare functions such as medication management and refills. Plus, advanced options for surgeries and other treatments that are maximally precise and minimally invasive are augmenting physicians’ skills and taking some pressure off the human element of surgeries.
The successful adoption of robotics requires a strategic plan with clear mapping of hospital needs and suitable robotics solutions, satisfying exceptionally stringent regulatory requirements and sourcing from medical suppliers capable of long-term design support. At least for most larger hospital systems, robotics programs also require dedicated liaisons with automation expertise to coordinate continuous improvement efforts.
Ultimately, medical robot offerings should be thoroughly evaluated through the lenses of patient safety and comfort as well as procedure or treatment efficiency and effectiveness. Along with a clear vision and plan, the opportunities are endless and encouraging for hospital and clinic administrators to evaluate for their respective systems and patients
About the author:
Rich Miron, Senior Technical Content Developer, DigiKey
Rich Miron is Senior Technical Content Developer for DigiKey. DigiKey is recognised as the global leader and continuous innovator in the cutting-edge commerce distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide, providing more than 15.9 million components from over 3,000 quality name-brand manufacturers.
