The Future Of Robotic Surgery

In this episode of The Future Of, Caleb Osborne, Director of Product Development at Asensus Surgical, joins Jeff Dance to discuss the future of robotic surgery. They unveil the types of robots involved in surgeries today, the newest developments in surgical robotics, and the surgeries robots are already doing.

They Cover:

[05:20] - As a smaller and more focused group, Asensus has seized the opportunity to concentrate on key areas. Their instruments boast high reusability, resulting in low per-procedure costs and setting industry standards. In contrast to typical 7.5 to 8-millimeter robotic instruments, LUNA's five-millimeter instruments are best-in-class, crucial for converting traditional laparoscopic procedures to minimally invasive ones. Notably, Asensus leads the way with the Intelligent Surgical Unit (ISU), offering real-time interoperative video and data access, replacing outdated methods like sterile measuring tapes, and opening up a world of clinical possibilities.
[10:10] - Surgical robots come in various types, each specialized for specific medical purposes. Future robots may serve only one or two segments of surgery. Examples include endovascular steerable catheter and bronchoscopy robots, as well as neurosurgery, spine, and orthopedic robots. Some procedures are image-guided, while others use telemanipulation. Fully autonomous soft tissue surgery is still challenging due to anatomical variations, making spine and orthopedic surgeries more amenable to autonomy. Nevertheless, robotics and AI enhance surgical outcomes in specialized fields.
[16:48] - Advancements in surgical robotics driven by AI offer great promise for medical practices. However, it's vital to address concerns around privacy and cybersecurity. Fortunately, the FDA has taken steps to regulate the use of AI in medical devices. Their requirements include rigorous testing with specific datasets to ensure consistent performance, as well as a clear statement of the intended use for each AI algorithm in specific procedures. The FDA also distinguishes between "closed" and "open" algorithms. Closed algorithms are fixed, while open ones can adapt to new procedures.
[24:00] - Caleb envisions the future of robotic surgery, where technology and expertise are seamlessly integrated. Surgeons will use robots in the operating room and confidently present the system to patients, creating trust in their skills and the robot's capabilities. To make this happen, extensive training and ongoing support will be essential. Additionally, robotic systems will integrate well with other medical devices, creating an interconnected operating room. This collaboration, especially between the robot and anesthesia technology, will improve patient outcomes. The focus is optimizing the entire surgical process while keeping the surgeon's experience efficient and effective.
[38:08] - The need for high-bandwidth data traffic in and out of operating rooms (OR) is driven not only by surgery but also by the opportunity to use other needs, such as diagnostic imaging and electronic health records. It is important to manage data flow and privacy across countries like Germany and Italy, especially in the cloud. Fortunately, major companies like AWS and Google Cloud are already working on privacy solutions and plugins. However, regulatory bodies must support these advancements to ensure seamless integration of cloud computing and on-device operations, which can enhance the clinical experience. Just like they have done with cybersecurity, they must now address privacy and AI issues collaboratively and promptly.
[51:15] - In the medical device field, we often overlook two critical aspects: the overwhelming number of devices clinicians handle daily, each with numerous buttons and screens. This complexity can inhibit their ability to care for patients effectively. For surgeons working with multiple robotic systems, while login procedures may vary, core interactions like tissue manipulation should be kept consistent. As technology advances, we should shift competition towards innovative features. This parallels how backup cameras became standard in cars. Additionally, we can provide hospitals with resources for patients, such as simplified simulators to build trust between patients and surgeons.

If you're interested in the future collaborative robots, tune into this episode of "The Future Of", a Podcast by Fresh Consulting.

Full transcript: https://www.freshconsulting.com/insights/podcasts/the-future-of-robotic-surgery/

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Episode resources:

Caleb Osborne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-osborne0808/
Asensus Surgical: https://www.asensus.com/

About the Show

"The Future Of" is a podcast by Fresh Consulting, hosted by Jeff Dance, where we discuss and learn about the future of different industries, markets, and technology verticals. Together we'll chat with leaders and experts in the field and discuss how we can shape the future human experience.