Robodocs

[Tuckerfan]

Just hope it doesn’t go nuts like that one drug delivery bot did not too long ago.

In a successful procedure today at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/The Allen Pavilion, a robot for the first time functioned as an independent assistant to the surgical team by handing and retrieving surgical instruments. The robot performed all of its assigned functions properly, a key validation of this important new technology and a dramatic demonstration of the potential for automation in the operating room.

The robot, known as the Penelope™ Surgical Instrument Server (SIS), uses innovative technology to identify surgical instruments, hand them to the surgeon, retrieve them and put them back in place. This new robot was designed and developed by Robotic Surgical Tech, Inc. (RST) of New York. The procedure performed was the removal of a benign tumor on the forearm.

Robots have been used in the operating room as tools for the surgeon to improve capability and accuracy. This is the first time a robot has functioned as an independent assistant, taking commands and performing actions independently based on the surgeon’s instruction.