How is robotics currently being used in surgery and are they beneficial to the medical field?
Informative Speech
Charlie McKee
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Robotics: Our Future, Not Our Enemy
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Terminator, Robocop, Blade Runner. What do all these movies have in common? They all greatly exaggerate the utility of robotics to the point that what you see no longer exemplifies the future of robotics; rather, they represent a computer-generated machine whose only goal is to score the money from the pockets of the hard-working citizen to put it into the hands of Hollywood producers with cash grab-syndrome.
Robotics is not the enemy of our future, though it is seen as the enemy of our workforce. Doctors, lawyers, and teachers alike all live in fear that their jobs will be replaced with the HAL-9000. But rest assured, robots are not going to take over the world, and they are not going to control us.
An article from The American Journal of Surgery shows that all robots-- by inherent design-- follow three rules strictly: (1) A robot may not injure a human or let one come to harm through inaction; (2) A robot must obey all orders given by humans, except in a case where the robot violates rule 1; (3) A robot must protect its existence, except in cases where the first or second rule is broken. These rules are the foundation for robotic integration into the workplace and, specifically, hospitals and operation rooms-- the OR.
Hospitals are some of the most terrifying places in the world. No matter what comes out of them, there’s always something bad going into them. No one wants to take a trip to the hospital, but you must understand this: robots are not being adapted into society to replace us in the hospital; we are using robots as tools-- not reliances, not servants-- but tools to help us do a better job.
Across hospitals and ORs throughout the world, robotics and artificial intelligence systems are utilized in three manners: (1) they could fulfill what is known as a passive role, meaning that the role of the robot in the surgery is very limited and generally low risk; (2) the robot could be playing a restricted role, meaning the robot has more responsibility but is still restricted from the essence of the procedure; (3) lastly, you could see robots playing an active role, where they will be intimately involved with the surgery and carry the most risk out of the three roles (Camarillo, et al.).
But again, robots being used in surgery does not equate to robots doing surgery. Nonetheless, despite some robots carrying more risk than other robots, all robots greatly improve efficiency and accuracy in hospitals.
For example, robots commonly play passive roles in data mining. The robots in data mining are not cutting the patient open or sewing the patient shut, nor are they telling the doctors what is wrong with the patient and what should be done (Heish, et al.). A report from the Journal of Medical Systems says that “Data mining techniques are currently used in medical decision support to increase diagnostic accuracy and to provide additional knowledge” (Heish, et al.). So, by computers cross-referencing thousands of reports and diagnostics simultaneously, the computers are greatly reducing the amount of time and money spent on research and analysis and, in turn, allowing doctors to do a better job because of better analysis (Heish, et al.).
But of course, robots and technology can do more than crunch numbers and read papers; within the world of dentistry, you can find robots with much more intimate tasks. These tasks require a much more thoroughly designed machine capable of handling more complicated commands with precision and accuracy.
A group of research scientists from the Journal of the International Clinical Dental Research Organization shows how doctors use “AI for orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment monitoring.” The article explains that “with precise 3D scans and virtual models, it is easy to 3D print the aligners with a customized treatment plan” (Deshmukh 47). It is because of these advancements in robotics, that doctors can offer better diagnoses in shorter periods in time.
Also, dentists use AI models and 3D scans to generate dental restoration for prosthetic and aesthetic applications. These applications include but are not limited to braces, root canals, and gum decay (Deshmukh 47).
Now I know you all were picturing a robot leading the surgery when I introduced the topic to you all, and you are all slightly disappointed that all the robots are doing is reading and math problems, even the more advanced robots. But robots cutting and stitching patients do exist to an extent. And that extent is that the robots are doing the cutting and stitching, but the robots are not independent of human supervision and often human control. We need to understand that a robot in the active role does not mean that the robot is not being overlooked or even controlled (Camarillo, et al.).
Over recent years, surgeons have been using robots under what is known as “The Acrobot Active Constraint Robotics System” for knee surgery. A report from The American Journal of Surgery goes into great detail on the effects and uses of the Acrobot System. One of the most noted benefits of the system is that the robots allow surgeons to pinpoint particular parts of the knee and adjust the scalpel on a micro-scale (Camarillo, et al.). These powers might seem both literally and figuratively small; however, they make a large impact on the ease of the surgery.
Commonly, the Acrobot system is seen in conjunction with a teleoperated robotic system known as the “da Vinci System”. By working together, the two systems grant surgeons the pleasure of sitting away from the operating table and controlling the robot remotely. By having such advancements, surgeons feel less stressed because of the robot's capabilities to make minuscule adjustments. Additionally, surgeons can finish the operation quicker because all of their tools are already ready to go (Camarillo, et al.).
As interesting as the use of robotics in surgery is to me, I am sure that it might not be the same for you--and there is nothing wrong with that! Besides, I am well aware of how scientists talk and the unneeded terminology can be wearing to the mind. So, to summarize in simpler terms, there are only four ideas I hope you take away from the concept of robots in surgery. (1) Robotics is evolving and slowly being integrated into the surgical world. (2) Humans will continue to have control over the OR. While robots will appear more and more as time goes on, several decades will likely lapse before we see a robot take complete control of the OR. (3) Not all robots involved in the surgery are in the OR; some are collecting data or running diagnostics. And finally, (4) Robots in the surgical field are not there to replace humans or do jobs for us; robots are being used to help doctors do their jobs better through a more reputable, accurate, and precise system.
Annotated Bibliography
Camarillo, David B., et al., "Robotic Technology in Surgery: Past, Present, and
Future." The American Journal of Surgery, vol. 188, no. 4, 2004, pp. 2-15S. ProQuest, www.search.proquest.com/docview/1031201110?accountid=338.
Having come a long way from the past, and constantly evolving in the present, Robotics is going to be like nothing we have ever seen or dreamed of. This source lays out the historical foundings of robotics and shows machine usage in surgical operations. This source will be useful to me and my research as I develop my findings on what is currently going on with robotics and what the future may hold.
Deshmukh, Sonali. "Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry." Journal of the International
Clinical Dental Research Organization., vol. 10, no. 2, 2018, pp. 47. ProQuest, www.search.proquest.com/docview/2162960109?accountid=338
By examining the dental history and oral patterns, robotics could lead us into the future of
Dentistry. This paper discusses the evolution of Dentistry and how Engineering Mechanics has shaped the cushioned chair. With the application and installment of Artificial Intelligence into the field of Dentistry, Deshmukh speculates how Dentistry could be brought to a whole new level of efficiency. This source will aid me in my research as I look for specific examples of where AI applications would benefit the Medical and Surgical fields.
Hsieh, Nan-chen, et al. "Intelligent Postoperative Morbidity Prediction of Heart
Disease using Artificial Intelligence Techniques." Journal of Medical Systems, vol. 36, no. 3, 2012, pp. 1809-20. ProQuest, www.search.proquest.com/docview/ 1013464713?accountid=338
Robots can only do two actions by nature: turn on, and turn off. Because a computer’s logic is entirely based on the computer’s code, it is very important to understand the code. With precise algorithms and mathematical theories, robots might be able to diagnose and perhaps predict morbidity amongst ill patients. This paper examines the progression of robotics and AI in its ability to diagnose and predict morbidity as well as the process of data mining computer rationalization. This source will remain relevant and crucial to my topic as I continue to develop my thesis and search for evidence regarding the benefits of the potential capabilities of AI in the medical field.