Cutting-edge robot space surgeon makes first incision in Zero-G

The world's first remote-operated robot space surgeon has been successfully tested, the team behind the device said this week. The miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant (spaceMIRA) wasn't operating on an astronaut, but on rubber bands designed to mimic elastic tissues like tendons and blood vessels. A total of 10 rubber bands …

[biddibiddibiddibiddi]

If I had anything to do with it, the first time an actual human operation in space was scheduled (not life-threatening emergency of course) I would rig the video feed with an "AI" to create a fake patient and the other astronauts around them, with everything responding to the surgeon's input, and when they made the first incision it would be like the Alien chestburster scene. Blood spraying everywhere in zero-G, people screaming. Maybe the xenomorph rips open one of the station walls.

[HuBo]

Bioengineering in spaaaace!

Way to go Cornhuskers! Have yourselves a well-deserved swig of Loup River Spring Creek Whiskey to celebrate (made from NE corn!)! ------>

[Howard Sway]

has even performed colorectal surgery on a human patient using the device

I imagine that it would be wise to let the surgeon practise space station docking docking manoeuvres on Elite first, before attempting such procedures remotely in zero-G on a real life astronaut's bum.

[biddibiddibiddibiddi]

Re: has even performed colorectal surgery on a human patient using the device

Honest, Doc, I just fell on that robotic arm control joystick and it snapped right off!

[Neil Barnes]

I'm just wondering

How they're going to fit the injured astronaut into the microwave.

Maybe "They peel them with their metal knives, then they smash them into little pieces..."

(If you're old enough, you'll remember :)

[Pascal Monett]

Noticeable lag

Cutting into blood vessels. Where's the nurse with the handy sterile tissue to staunch the bleeding ?

Better not make a mistake in those conditions. Oops, I just cut an artery. It'll take two minutes to swap the scissors for the bandage. Too late . . .

[Roland6]

“ we expect the impact of this research will be most notable on Earth”

I wonder if the test was on ISS because funding was available…

From events it would seem a real use of this technology would be to perform emergency surgery at the Antarctic research base. Although, I wonder if the time lag would be greater due to use of earth-satellite-earth communications.

[druck]

Re: “ we expect the impact of this research will be most notable on Earth”

It's far easier to have a real surgeon on hand at the Antarctic base, and that would not test the robot in microgravity.

[Roland6]

Re: “ we expect the impact of this research will be most notable on Earth”

You mean the patient can more easily operate on themselves?

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/03/antarctica-1961-a-soviet-surgeon-has-to-remove-his-own-appendix/72445/#

[Bebu]

Zero G

I would be interested in the changes in surgical technique required in microgravity environments - management of liquids would likely be different - no gravity feed for IV fluids I imagine, and you cannot "drop" things on to a site (without thought gravity is often used as an invisible third hand on Earh - imagine brick-laying in space :) I don't think liquids pool so irrigation is likeky to be tricky.

The interaction of general anaesthesia (and anaesthetics used) with the human body's adaptation to (prolonged) microgravity might add another dimension of "interesting" (as in tnteresting times.)

[Anonymous Coward]

Virtual Incision

Who names these companies?

Really hope they get a name change before they go live on a real patient.

Don't want to be confused with one of those fake "healers" that go around pretending to cut their "patient" and "removing growths" before magically sealing the incision without any scarring.

[Christoph]

"I'm not a doctor I'm a miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant !"