Researchers from the University of California, San Diego achieved a historic milestone in medicine and technology this week by performing the first live surgeries using remotely controlled, human-like robots.
The study, published in the prestigious journal Nature, detailed two successful procedures on large animals, demonstrating a revolutionary potential to reshape the future of surgical operations.
Successful Remote Control Testing
During the first trial, a humanoid robot collaborated with a human surgeon, serving as a primary component in a gallbladder removal operation.
In the second trial, two robots worked in tandem, executing the procedure without any direct manual intervention from a medical team at the operating table. In both instances, control was managed entirely from a distance, with doctors operating the robots in real time.
A Lightweight Compact Alternative
The robots, nicknamed "Surgie", feature a relatively compact design, standing roughly 1.5 meters tall and weighing just 27 kilograms. This contrasts sharply with traditional robotic surgery systems currently used in operating rooms, which can weigh up to 800 kilograms and require expensive, specialized modifications to hospital infrastructure.
Researchers emphasize that the simplicity and portability of this new system could make life-saving treatments accessible to remote or under-resourced regions.
Overcoming Current Technical Hurdles
Despite the excitement, researchers acknowledge that the technology is still in its early stages.
The surgical procedures required repeated system calibrations and took significantly longer to complete compared to operations performed with today's advanced robotic systems.
Additionally, latency,the time lag between a surgeon's movement and the robot's physical response, remains a major challenge, particularly for long-distance remote control operations.
According to Dr. Shanglei Liu, one of the participating surgeons, these hurdles are not insurmountable. He noted that the very first robotic surgeries years ago also took hours to complete, whereas today they are performed in a matter of minutes.
The Future of Robotic Operating Staff
The research team envisions an even broader future, aiming to integrate humanoid robots as permanent members of the operating room staff.
Beyond performing surgeries, these robots could serve as logistical assistants by retrieving equipment, prepping rooms, and handling post-op cleanup. Researchers believe this approach could solve widespread medical staffing shortages and enable surgeries in extreme environments, such as active battlefields or deep space missions.
The system is more affordable, takes up less space, and can be deployed almost anywhere, Liu noted, adding that it opens up entirely new possibilities for modern medicine.
