Engineers Developing Advanced Robotic Systems That Will Become Surgeon's Right Hand

Phys.org ------ In the operating room of the future, robots will be an integral part of the surgical team, working alongside human surgeons to make surgeries safer, faster, more precise and more automated. In the lab of electrical engineering professor Michael Yip at the University of California San Diego, engineers are developing advanced robotic systems that could make this vision a reality. From intelligent algorithms that can enable robots to lend a helping hand during surgery, to "smart" endoscopes that can autonomously maneuver through sensitive nooks and crannies inside the body, the robotics technologies in Yip's lab are all inspired by a common goal: to augment the capabilities of surgeons. The goal is not to replace human surgeons, but to better assist and enable them to do much more, Yip said. Human surgeons, he explained, are still needed to make decisions that can't be left to a robot, such as what treatment is best for the patient, or how a surgical procedure should be performed. For more information on engineers developing advanced robotic systems that will become surgeon's right hand click on the picture below to read the article.