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Robots could soon be operating on humans, unsupervised experts claim after an unmanned bot was used to stitch together part of a pig’s bowel in a new experiment.
Doctors at the Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington have created the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot or Star, which is self-controlled and able to carrying out stitching itself once a course has been plotted for it.
The robot was found by Science Translational Medicine to be at least able to match trained doctors at matching the cut bowel of a pig. The experiment has been heralded as such a success because it took place on soft tissue, which moves during a procedure.
To this point it has been difficult to get round such issues, and while robots have been used in UK hospitals for some years, these have been fully operated by doctors rather than working independently.
However, Star is able to read and follow florescent markers on soft tissue, meaning it can carry out stitching itself even when a surface is moving.
Dr Peter Kim, of the Children’s National Medical Centre, Washington DC, said: “Probably the most surprising part was when you compare it to current standards of practise, the machine does it better.
“Just imagine having the best technology and technique available and having these intelligent systems. It will ultimately have better outcomes and save lives.”
Star wasn’t perfect for all of the experiment, however – which took place across tissue samples in a lab and on live animals in an operating theatre, with the scientists having to step in and tweak what the robot was doing around 40% of the time.
The team of scientists hope to continue trials, and believe use on humans could begin in the next two years, most likely with some human assistance. However, Dr Kim said the technology could one day be used to carry out routine operations, such as gall bladder or appendix removal surgeries, unassisted.
