5 reasons why robots could become the best doctors of the future

In recent years, robots have been rapidly changing medicine, offering new methods of diagnosis and treatment. They are already showing themselves as valuable assistants to doctors, and in the future they may become leading specialists in certain fields.

About 5 reasons why robots can turn out to be better doctors than people, and how this will change the medical industry, RBC tells -Ukraine (Styler project) with a link to the website of The World Economic Forum.

Acceleration of diagnostics

By their very nature, hospital emergency departments require rapid decision-making so that medical staff can prioritize care for patients with the most urgent needs.

The University of York in the UK is studying how artificial intelligence-based software and robotics can be used to reduce patient waiting times and pressure on doctors and nurses.

The research team is developing a prototype called the “AI Diagnostic System for Robotic Inpatient Triage” (DAISY), which will collect patient data, such as the patient's symptoms and vital signs.

“The DAISY system will generate a report based on questions and measurements of the patient's health status that will be sent to the senior physician for the next stages of triage,” says Dr. Chiara Picardi, lead researcher on the project.

Picardi admits that the first step is to determine whether patients will accept such an intervention before they begin testing the prototype in a hospital setting.

Elsewhere, robots are being developed to diagnose lung cancer more quickly. Intuitive has developed Ion, an innovative robotic platform aimed at enabling minimally invasive biopsies that can become a key part of early diagnosis.

Surgical precision

A number of high-tech surgical solutions provide new meaning of the term “operating system”.

Systems such as the da Vinci System and Stryker's Mako robotic surgical manipulator system support doctors in performing invasive surgeries and joint replacements.

In Great Britain, a seven-year-old boy was treated for kidney disease with the help of a revolutionary robotic surgical device. The Versius Surgical Robotic System aims to provide patients with faster recovery times and reduce post-operative pain.

Many other new tools and techniques are being developed, with the robotic surgery market projected to grow to more than $14 billion by 2026 compared to just over $10 billion in 2023.

Rethinking Mobility

While robotics can help healthcare professionals diagnose and treat illnesses as they arise, they are also helping people with pre-diagnosed illnesses improve their quality of life.

Ahead of the Olympics In 2024, Kevin Piette, who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident more than a decade ago, used an exoskeleton to walk the streets of the French capital carrying the Olympic flame.

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Developed by Wandercraft, the Atalante X is described as “the first and only self-stabilizing exoskeleton”.

Meanwhile, Yrobot is a cutting-edge robotics company founded by Harvard and MIT PhDs that aims to restore and improve carrier mobility through robotics.

Unlike traditional exoskeletons that assist wearers by supporting their body weight, Yrobot has developed the world's first muscle armor that is more flexible, lightweight and intelligent.

Researchers were also able to connect the robotic limbs to the nervous system wearer, which they hope will improve the comfort and reliability of the prostheses.

The patient, a Swedish woman who lost her arm in a farm accident and experienced pain in her phantom limb, said the procedure gave her “the best life “.

Wearable robotics are also making their way into more commercial spaces. Outdoor apparel company Arc'teryx has teamed up with Skip, a company founded by former Googlers, to develop reinforced hiking pants that can help users with mobility issues.

Remote capabilities

Robotics are also used to promote telemedicine – remote patient care.

Boston-based startup Perceptive says it has completed the first fully robotic dental procedure using automated dental technology, including AI-powered data analysis and robotic arms and instruments.

Elsewhere, a remote-controlled robot has been developed , which helps doctors perform endoscopies remotely. PillBot, developed by Endiatx, is designed to allow patients to interact with gastroenterologists from the comfort of their own homes.

Rehabilitation with robots

The technology is also used in post-operative patient care. The National Robotarium collaborated with the Austrian Institute of Technology AIT in a pilot study to develop social assistive robots to support stroke and brain injury patients with routine upper extremity rehabilitation exercises – which only 31 percent of patients currently complete.

The robot communicates with patients through a headset that detects neural activity. Signals are used to decode what movement the patient intends to perform.

The robot can provide verbal motivation, visually demonstrate the movement, and give feedback when the patient completes the required movement.

Boost level of training

In addition to providing new ways to care for patients, robots are also being developed to support the training of new medical staff.

University of California, San Diego's Advanced Research Unit has developed a humanoid robot named RIA. Students can role-play with a robot that can be programmed to pretend to have a wide range of illnesses.

“RIA is non-judgmental. She doesn't get tired. She doesn't check her smartphone, so she can do these role-plays continuously, effortlessly, over and over,” said Jonathan Rezach, program manager at the English Language Institute.

Using artificial intelligence and robotics, RIAs can provide human-like emotional responses, helping doctors prepare for real-world interactions with patients.