The presence of health robots is not exactly new. Since the late 1980s, when the first automated devices have begun to be tested on surgical procedures, advances have been occurring at a rapid pace.
Today, medical robotics is an indispensable ally to ensure safety, efficiency and accuracy at various stages of patient care.
Where robots already work in medicine
According to orthopedist Marcos Cortelazo, a member of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Sport Medicine, robots already play an essential role in different medical specialties.
Currently, applications are mainly concentrated in surgeries. This includes general surgery, urology, gynecology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and gastrointestinal procedures, for example. The robotic arms used in these cases are controlled by the doctor himself, acting as an extension of his movements.
In some techniques, the arm can be manipulated through a joystick (similar to video games), where the surgeon views the place operated by a monitor or even 3D glasses. There are also applications in rehabilitation and in the production of medical prostheses, instruments and equipment.
In the field of, although robots are not directly used, associated technologies, such as (AI), have gained prominence, offering support in identifying disease and exam analysis.
Differentials of robotic surgery
One of the main advantages of robotic surgery is the precision. The mechanical arms allow to make movements with submilimetric accuracy – Something practically impossible for human hands. This means that the surgeon can operate with much more control, avoiding damage to delicate structures and reducing risks of complications.
“Robotic arms allow us to come where human hand and vision often do not reach. With this, we can ensure greater safety by manipulating noble structures,” says Cortelazo.
Moreover, as robot movements are filtered and do not undergo interference from the natural tremors of the human body, the performance of the procedure tends to be more stable and reliable. For the patient, this translates into less cuts, faster recovery and lower risk of infections.
Robotics and artificial intelligence
It is common to confuse the concepts of robotics and artificial intelligence, but they are not synonymous.
“Robotic surgery and AI are distinct things, but they interrelate. The robotic arm in the most diverse specialties consists of a Surgeon’s hands extensionbeing commanded by him. AI is the learning that the machine makes the information with which it is supplied, creating various standards that can be repeated and replicated, helping in decision making, “says Cortelazo.
Sergio Arap, head and neck surgeon and assistant director of the Syrian Lebanese Hospital, also highlights the current role of AI in diagnoses.
“Especially in the recognition of patterns that may indicate a possible disease or an increase in the risk of clinical worsening. This is not so recent. There are already heart monitors that recognize certain curves and identify the type of arrhythmia that the patient has or presented. There are also semi -automatic defibrillators (present in subway or malls) that detect whether the patient needs a shock for the heart to resume the rhythm. suitable, “says Arap.
Surgery done only by robots. Is it possible?
For both doctors, this hypothesis is discarded. Even with technological advances, human participation is still indispensable.
“The robot is an adjunct to medical activity. It is a tool for improving the performance, accuracy and safety of procedures. But it needs to be commanded even for decision making,” says Cortelazo.
“He can direct a diagnosis, but he cannot do so; he can direct to an area to be treated, but the doctor who needs
Command the robot to make a certain movement or authorize a cut after safety checks. This is how it occurs in aviation. There is legally the need for the act and the doctor’s responsibility for everything the professional demands to robots “, comments ARAP.
And a distance operation?
One of the most promising points of medical robotics is its ability to break geographical barriers. In remote places, where there are no specialists available, technology can represent the difference between access or not proper treatment.
In this respect, Cortelazo sees both robotics and AI as fundamental tools to expand access to health.
In June 2024, Chinese doctor Zhang Xu was the first to perform long distance surgery. From Beijing, China, he led the telecirurgy of a patient in Rome, Italy, more than 8,000 kilometers away. The procedure in question was the complete withdrawal of a patient’s prostate.
Main obstacles in Brazil
Despite the benefits, medical robotics still faces important challenges in Brazil. The main one is the cost. A surgical robot can cost millions of dollars ,.
“The best known robot in the market, Vinci’s, had only increased its cost since implementation in Brazil in 2008. The first model cost $ 1.8 million, and the latest reached $ 3.2 million. There was no cheap. And this considering only the cost of the equipment. In addition, for each surgery, there is an additional cost with materials, ranging from $ 9,000 and $ 13,000,” comments ARAP.
Another obstacle is coverage by agreements or insurers. “The National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) does not require coverage of these surgeries, and in most plans, patients need to bear this additional cost,” adds ARAP.
Finally, he highlights the social challenge. “Robotic surgeries are more expensive for both SUS and supplementary health. This increases
Costs, which can be justifiable in procedures with proven advantages. However, for interventions where there are no clear benefits (such as the withdrawal of a gallbladder or the correction of a simpler hernia), the use of the robot represents a waste of resources. “
