Biorobotics Just as there have always been advances in medicine and technology, the two have now come together to form biorobotics. Biorobotics studies ways to emulate living biological organisms mechanically or even chemically. Biorobotics is a fairly new technology that still has a while before it becomes widespread. Some uses are prosthetics, long distance surgery, robotic surgery, robots used as doctors in the military, and robots used in nursing homes. Biorobotics is the future of this medical world. This is possible in three ways, by using it in surgery, on the battlefield, and assistance.
The first way biorobotics will become the future of the medical world is in surgery. Many people in this world need surgery for various different diseases, illnesses and injuries. The use of biorobotics helps to increase patient security. The patients feel safer when they know a human controlled robot will perform the procedure rather than leaving the chances of success to any unsteady hand of a human. This leads to not only a higher success rate in surgery but more patients choosing to perform surgery in the first place, which could be a life or death situation. (Parker-Pope) It is not unlikely that patients opt out of surgery.
Another reason they might choose to opt out is because of the quality and experience of the surgeon. Some patients only trust well known and recommended surgeons to perform surgery on them, even if they are on the other side of the country. With biorobotics, surgeons can now perform surgery from their home state on any one around the world. In 2001, surgery was done successfully with the surgeon in New York and the patient in France. (Jacques Marescaux) Just like the surgery done by the robot, the patients felt a feeling of security knowing their procedure would be done by a well known surgeon.
It even led to the patient having a speedy recovery and being released from the hospital in two days with no side effects. Another incident like this was in Canada but to reduce the time delay, they used special fiber optic links that greatly reduced the time. This further proves that although biorobotics is a great advance in the medical and engineering fields, there is still much to be fixed. (Frank O’Connell) Since robots are man made, they can be created into virtually any size and shape. This gives them the versatility to enter into parts of the body that doctors have never before been able to see or precisely treat.
(Frank O’Connell) Precision is key no matter what in the medical field. Any slight miscalculations can lead to catastrophic or fatal conclusions. Another way biorobotics is helping doctors precisely treat certain diseases and illnesses is by having the patient swallow a small camera, that way the doctors can see exactly what the problem is and how to treat it correctly and directly. (Ellen Thro) Biorobotics has made the lives of many people, including but not limited to surgeons and patients, much easier and will continue to do so in the future as it advances.
Biorobotics is not only limited to use in a hospital but can also be used on the battlefield. With the United States being at war for more than half of it’s life time, with war comes injuries and casualties. The problem with human doctors on the battlefield is that they are just as vulnerable to attack as any soldier. By replacing these doctors with robots, these robots can get to work quickly and fear-free. They are not created with a sense of fear or anger, which makes them perfect for the job. (Cornelia Dean) The possibilities for the advancement of these robots are endless, maybe even replacing human soldiers once and for all.
Another good thing about biorobotics is that robots can always be replaced, whereas humans cannot. In the aftermath of 9/11, many clean up crews became sick after being exposed to deadly fumes at ground zero. Many lives were spared though due to biorobotics. Robots were able to replace humans and autonomously find bodies and clean up rubble. (Daniel Ichbiah) In the future, robots can be ready at a moments notice, ready to assist no matter the situation. The final way biorobotics will change the world is by assisting and giving a helping hand.
Many people live with the need of assistance but do not have it due to financial problems. Biorobotics are changing this and taking over the world of assisted living. These robots can do anything from call the police, to preparing food, to working as a type writer. (Steven J. Marcus) Although many senior citizens feel that they do not need assisted living, it could one day save their life. One of the many positive aspects of having a robot around rather than a nurse or similar, the owner does not feel intruded by a robot, whereas it feels a burden to a human.
Also the nurses only come on certain times and days, where robots can live with the senior citizens, doing whatever they need, whenever and assisting them in all ways possible. In conclusion, biorobotics is the future of the medical world and will continue to advance and help our society. Robots are what this world needs to keep advancing into the future. Without them, we will be stuck forever in the past. Biorobotics can change the way we perform surgery and the way we get treated. It will also change the way we go to war by saving thousands of lives.
Finally it will change the way we live as a whole, assisting us in whatever society asks. Citations Parker-Pope, Tara. “Hospitals With Robots Do More Prostate Cancer Surgery. ” New York Times 11 Mar. 2011. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. “Remote Gallbladder Operation Spans 3,800 Miles. ” New York Times 20 Sep. 2001, Late Edition (East Coast): New York Times, ProQuest. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. Dean, Cornelia. “Can robots make ethical decisions in battle? ” New York Times 25 Nov. 2008. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. Frank O’connell. “Robots With Moves More Delicate Than a Surgeon’s.
” New York Times 5 Jun 2007, Late Edition (East Coast): New York Times, ProQuest. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. Marcus, Steven J. “Technology: A robot To Aid The Disabled. ” New York Times 16 June 1983, Late Edition (East Coast): Banking Information Source. ProQuest. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. Angela Pirisi. “Telerobotics bring surgical skills to remote comm. ” The Lancet 361. 9371 (2003): 1794. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 7 Nov. 2012 Thro, Ellen. Robotics: Intelligent Machines for the New Century, New Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc. , 2003. Print. Ichbiah, Daniel. Robots. Trans. Ken Kincaid. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005. Print.