I. What types of medical robots are used in the surgical field?
In the future, we will see medical robots appearing in various surgeries that require precise positioning, high surgical stability, and are difficult to perform using traditional methods.
Laparoscopic surgical robots. Laparoscopic surgical robots can perform a wide range of surgical procedures, such as urological, gynecological, thoracic, and general surgery. The endoscope allows surgeons to extend their view into the patient's body, while robotic arms mimic their hands to grasp and manipulate the endoscope and surgical instruments. The most famous example is Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci laparoscopic robot, and laparoscopic surgical robots represent the largest market segment in the medical robotics field. For instance, in laparoscopic prostatectomy for prostate cancer, the procedure involves operating in a deep and narrow area, increasing the risk of damaging surrounding nerves. The precision and flexibility of medical robots are perfectly suited for this type of surgery.
Orthopedic surgical robots. Orthopedic surgical robots are used to assist in orthopedic surgeries, such as joint replacement surgery and spinal surgery. The first medical robot seen in the domestic capital market was Tinavi's Tianji orthopedic robot. Tinavi's first-generation product mainly focused on orthopedic trauma surgeries such as fractures, while its minimally invasive orthopedic robot is more specifically designed for knee replacement. In fact, orthopedic surgery is a type of surgery that is very suitable for medical robots. After all, bones are hard organs, and precise positioning is required during surgery. Moreover, traditionally, orthopedic surgeries relied on X-ray imaging, and doctors were exposed to significant radiation. The three-dimensional high-definition imaging method of medical robots reduces radiation exposure.
Vascular surgical robots. Vascular surgical robots are used to treat diseases of the vascular system or related organs such as the heart, brain, or peripheral vascular system.
Natural orifice surgical robots. Natural orifice surgical robots refer to robots that deliver surgical instruments to the surgical area through the body's natural orifices and can be controlled to perform diagnostic or surgical procedures. They can be used for examinations of the lungs, intestines, and stomach, among other things.
Percutaneous biopsy robot. Percutaneous biopsy robots are used in percutaneous biopsy procedures, primarily for collecting tissue samples for diagnostic purposes, such as the detection of early-stage lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
II. Can medical robots replace humans in the future?
A sudden pandemic has brought the use of medical robots in the fight against the epidemic into the public eye, and will also accelerate the pace of artificial intelligence companies' expansion into the medical field.
According to statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the market size of intelligent medical robots in my country reached 3.4 billion yuan in 2018, and it is estimated that by 2025, the market size will exceed 10 billion yuan. It can be predicted that medical robots will enable online consultations and telemedicine in the future, leading to rapid growth for pharmaceutical O2O internet healthcare companies. Simultaneously, intelligent medical products will utilize 5G, AI, and IoT technologies to achieve integrated intelligent healthcare.
International medical experts predict that nanorobots may emerge in the future, enabling "microscopic" treatment or direct delivery of drugs to diseased cells. At that time, medical robots will become our family healthcare providers, monitoring changes in human health in real time through sensors, building a communication bridge between doctors and patients, and allowing people to receive high-quality medical services without leaving their homes.
Because of the emergence and continuous development of medical robot technology, the argument that medical robots may replace medical workers in the future has been persistent and has become a hot topic of debate in the global medical community. In fact, in a "human-machine integrated intelligent society," medical robots are invented, designed, and controlled by humans. Humans are undoubtedly the most dynamic and active factor, and the driving force behind development. Medical robots are machines; they cannot be completely independent of medical workers and operate without control.
Of course, while emphasizing the decisive role of humans, we cannot ignore the enormous potential of medical robots. Currently, the research and development of medical robots is still in its early stages; they lack the deep thinking abilities of humans, possess only programmed functions, and cannot escape human control. There is still a long way to go before medical robots can gradually approach the thinking of the human brain, possessing independent thinking, analytical, and judgment capabilities.
