Robots at the operating table the way to go

A recent New York Times article indicated the growign role that robots are playing in the medical field - increasingly for sensitive surgical procedures.

From cardiac procedures to cosmetic surgery to orthopedic operations, robots are already a $1 billion segement of the medical device industry.

According to the article: “Many urologists performing prostate surgery view the precise, tremor-free movements of a robot as the best way to spare nerves crucial to bladder control and sexual potency. A robot’s ability to deftly handle small tools may lead to a less invasive procedure and faster recovery for a patient. Robots also can protect surgeons from physical stress and exposure to X-rays that may force them into premature retirement.”

As robots revolutionized the manufacturing industry in the 1980’s, experts are now predicting that robots would eventually operate as precisely as the world’s greatest surgeons, but doing so far more tirelessly and in remote locations thanks to control via satelite links.

Read the full article for more information