Cobots The future of medical technology through robotics

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Technologies such as robotics are crucial for the further development of the medical technology industry. But where exactly are collaborative robots already used today? And what are their advantages for the industry?

The integration of collaborative robots, also known as cobots, into medical technology marks a groundbreaking advance for the industry. Cobots enable safe cooperation between humans and machines, and their areas of application extend across the entire medical production and research. A distinction is made between robots that perform medical tasks - these are a medical product - and robots that are used in the manufacture of medical products and for which no medical certification is required.

In manufacturing, cobots help automate repetitive tasks, which not only increases efficiency, but also improves the work environment for staff. "Applications can include lifting heavy components or assembling very small elements. Monotonous tasks are also suitable for the cobot in production: Everything where a part has to be moved from A to B multiple times for hours, as well as tasks that do not constantly require human intervention," says Niklas Kuczaty, Managing Director of the AG Healthtech in the VDMA.

Precise positioner

As a medical product, cobots show their potential in performing precise and sensitive tasks, supported by human control. For example, in surgery, where cobots can precisely position instruments or aids. According to Jennifer Schlichting, Business Developer Medical Robotics at Stäubli Tec-Systems, their robots can achieve an accuracy of 0.3 mm - humans can't achieve that, as even with high concentration, the hands always tremble slightly. "Patients benefit from this because it leads to fewer complications, less pain, and faster recovery," says Schlichting. "In addition, robots can be used in imaging by connecting high-resolution camera systems to the robot. The Stäubli robot was connected to a camera, making it easier for doctors to look into the surgical field without having to bend over."

In the operating room, the robot can then very precisely approach a position. This position can be checked using a navigation system and combined with imaging such as an X-ray system or ultrasound system. So, the medical personnel can precisely specify which point should be approached at what angle, and control or monitor this using imaging. "Robots receive the target coordinates and can then automatically perform the movement sequence, like the exact placement of a biopsy channel, so that the medical personnel only have to set the needle," explains Schlichting.

Sense of touch for robots

Cobots can be equipped with various sensors: for example, with force-moment sensors, which allow the user to drive the robot to a certain point by hand or to position an instrument on an exact line a bit further back or further forward, as is the case with the robot from Stäubli Tec-Systems. In addition to their "eyes", their camera, robots as medical products are expected to also be given a sense of touch in the future. The start-up company Surag Medical, a spin-off from the University Hospital Magdeburg, has come up with a system over the last few years that is supposed to support navigation during needle interventions based on vibration. For example, in epidural or spinal anesthesia without imaging, the needle has to be inserted into an area of the spine where many nerve pathways run and where other anatomical structures are located that should not be injured. It requires a lot of experience and practice for a doctor to be able to perform this. "Vibrations are generated when a needle interacts with tissue. Each layer of tissue has different mechanical properties, so each layer produces a different vibration when pierced with the needle. So we developed a sensor that is so sensitive that it can capture and interpret vibrations that humans do not perceive. This sensor can then give feedback as to which structure you have reached. This can be the spinal space, for example. It is surrounded by a layer that produces a certain type of vibration," says Moritz Spiller, CEO at Surag Medical.

This sensor technology is suitable for neurology or anesthesia. This should reduce the number of puncture attempts and save time. In some cases, for example, a CT scan has to be done, which is not planned in the hospital's schedule and also incurs additional costs. "There are already many robots with image recognition algorithms that are making their way into various areas. A camera might have 120 frames per second, whereas our touch technology can capture 44,000 values per second. This can capture processes that are not visible. The requirements for the hardware are minimal and the amounts of data to be processed also remain small compared to an HD video," says Spiller. "There have already been attempts with Da Vinci, the most widely used robot-assisted surgical system in the world. Here the sensor technology from Surag Medical is expected to autonomously identify pulsating blood vessels in the future, which are currently difficult for the surgeon to recognize. In open surgery, this was previously simply felt with the hands before cutting, which of course is no longer possible with the robot without a sense of touch," says Spiller.

Flexibility and efficiency improvement

The flexibility and the extremely high precision of Cobots allow for adaptation to changing requirements in many medical areas, which is of crucial importance in the dynamic medical technology field. Additionally, during long operations, the use of these machines has the advantage of reducing break times, as the machine retains a consistent "concentration".

"Also at this year's Medtec Live from June 18 to 20 in Stuttgart, the latest developments in the automation of medical technology will be of great importance. Technologies such as robotics are crucial for the further development of the industry. At Medtec Live, experts, companies, and innovators come together to discuss the potentials of these developments and present solutions. This event offers an opportunity to look into the future of medical technology," says Christopher Boss, Managing Director of Medtec Live GmbH and Executive Director of the event.

Collaborative robots not only contribute to increased efficiency, but also open new horizons for innovative solutions in medical technology. Their use promises a transformative development that steers the industry towards advanced technologies and patient-centered innovations.

*The author: Sabrina Schnappauf, TBN Public Relations GmbH