Can China’s AI-powered surgical robots cut wait times for operations?
Automated ‘third hand’ for surgeons hailed as helping in routine tasks like retracting tissues, picking up gauze and clipping blood vessels
The team led by the Chinese University of Hong Kong developed an AI system automating a robotic arm to help surgeons in routine tasks like retracting tissue, picking up gauze and clipping blood vessels.
The AI-automated arm acts as a third hand for surgeons, who control two other robotic arms from a control console where they view live endoscopic footage during operations.
The researchers reported their work in an article published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Robotics in July, in a special issue on autonomy and AI in medical robots.
“The trend of an ageing population further brings growing clinical demand, placing strain on surgeons who must manage more patients,” they wrote.