Robotic Surgery Innovations

I asked a world-renowned surgeon what he thought would be possible in AI x surgery in our lifetimes. Without hesitation, he said "it's conceivable – in a not too distant future – that we will have fully autonomous robotic surgeries, and we should. Ultimately, it will be harder to create the regulatory apparatus supporting autonomous surgery than the technology itself." Near-term, he said that "lane-assist" technology was coming to the OR. Giving surgeons utilizing robotics (such as Intuitive's DaVinci) supportive tools like warnings when cutting close to a critical anatomical structure (detected by computer vision) or preventing the device from cutting critical structures altogether (akin to "auto-brake"). Long-term, every hospital will have access to surgical robotics. I'm optimistic that we can realize the potential of a distributed fleet of surgical assistants –revisiting concepts like telesurgery, or the notion that surgeons can operate on a patient thousands of miles away, and real-time case collaboration among surgeons across institutions. This future state of surgical robotics is one of the greatest examples of how technology can scale clinical expertise to increase access to world class care for patients – especially in rural, low resource, or critical access settings... and even in space! #healthcare #artificialintelligence #ai #generativeai #robotics #surgery

An AI robot just performed 7 gallbladder surgeries - with 100% success. Here’s what happened: A research team at Johns Hopkins built an AI-powered robot trained on 17 hours of surgery footage and 16,000+ motions. The AI watched how surgeons perform a gallbladder removal. Then it turned that learning into precise 3D movements - and carried out the surgery by itself. They didn’t test this on an actual human yet, of course. It was on a pig cadaver. But the AI completed it without any remote control or manual help. It even caught and corrected its own errors - like adjusting tension or improving cut angles mid-operation. And to prove it wasn’t a fluke, the robot repeated the same surgery 7 times. Each one was a success. So what makes this different from regular surgical robots? → Most surgical robots are assisted - they still rely on human control. → This robot was autonomous - it made decisions, executed them, and adapted in real-time However, it still needed humans for one thing: changing surgical tools. But every critical action - locating, cutting, separating organs - was done by the AI. Why does this matter? Because this could be the beginning of AI-assisted surgery at scale: - In rural hospitals where specialists aren’t available - In operating rooms where precision is life-saving - In workflows where automation can reduce fatigue, errors, and costs I know we’re probably still a decade away from live human trials. But the shift is already happening - from AI as a second opinion… to AI as a surgical assistant (or even a surgeon!). Would you trust an AI to perform surgery if the success rate was proven? #AI #healthtech #innovation

AI Surgeon Performs First Fully Autonomous Procedure - No Human Hands Required >> 🤖A Johns Hopkins-led team has achieved a world first, an AI-controlled robot autonomously performed gallbladder removal with 100% success across eight trials, without any human intervention 🤖 The robot, named SRT-H, was trained on surgical videos using imitation learning and guided only by voice prompts, then made its own decisions in real time, adapting to unexpected anatomical variations and environmental changes 🤖 The operation involved 17 precise steps including identifying arteries and ducts, placing clips, and cutting tissue, tasks the robot executed with consistency and mechanical precision on lifelike models (yes not yet on real humans) 🤖 Built on the same machine learning architecture that powers ChatGPT, importantly SRT-H didn’t just mimic moves, it understood the procedure and adjusted when things didn’t go to plan 🤖 The breakthrough moves robotic surgery from task automation to full procedural autonomy, offering a glimpse of a future where AI surgeons could handle simple soft-tissue surgeries with minimal supervision 🤖 While slower than human surgeons today, SRT-H plotted more efficient movements and corrected itself up to six times per procedure, potentially offering fewer errors and less tissue trauma over time 💬 Once this moves into real humans, there will be new challenges. Live patients breathe, bleed, and move , so real-world safety will demand further testing and training. But it offers an exciting view of the future #digitalhealth #ai

From Surgery to Shop Floor: Force-Sensing Robots Are Here At a hospital in Los Angeles, a new chapter in robotic surgery just began. https://lnkd.in/eBXsqdJr Using the next-generation Intuitive da Vinci 5 system, a surgeon performed a procedure with not just robotic precision—but the ability to feel. With force feedback technology, the surgeon could sense tissue tension in real time—offering a level of control previously impossible with vision alone. For decades, vision has ruled alone in surgery. Now, with the addition of force sensing, a host of advantages emerge: • Greater precision • Safer tissue handling • More intuitive control for the surgeon This same combination of force + vision sensing is exactly what’s needed across robotic applications: • Complex assembly and insertion tasks • Fragile material handling • Human-safe collaboration ATI Industrial Automation and Celera Motion, A Novanta Company support this future—developing the force sensors and precision components that help robots do more, safely and effectively. #robotics

Excited to share our latest publication in JTCVS Techniques (American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)! We present the first reported use of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging for real-time intraoperative visualization of an intramural left anterior descending (LAD) artery during robotic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). By integrating near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, we successfully identified the precise anatomical course of the intramural LAD, enabling robotic-assisted revascularization while avoiding sternotomy. This approach significantly reduced surgical complexity, minimized operative time, and facilitated rapid postoperative recovery. Our findings highlight the potential of ICG-NIRF imaging to enhance precision in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, particularly in cases where standard angiography provides limited clarity. Videos and more information on this to come—stay tuned! https://lnkd.in/gUGEDDXD Ujjawal Kumar Feras Khaliel Tyler Phillips American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)

Low latency and reliable network will transform healthcare : A major milestone in med-tech: Dr. Luo Qingquan successfully removed a lung tumor from 5,000 km away using 5G-powered robotic surgery. This achievement highlights how low-latency networks, real-time systems, and advanced robotics software are transforming healthcare access. It’s not just surgery—it’s a breakthrough in software-driven telemedicine. As developers and engineers, this is a reminder: the systems we build can enable life-saving solutions across continents. The fusion of connectivity and code is redefining what’s possible. #5G #SoftwareInnovation #RoboticSurgery #Telemedicine #EdgeComputing #HealthTech #AIinHealthcare

🔬 5G and 5G-Advanced in Healthcare: State of the Art and Future Outlook 🚑 Imagine: A surgeon in Shanghai remotely operating on a patient in Hainan—4,600 km away—with zero lag A private 5G network in a smart hospital enabling AR-guided emergency care and real-time imaging uploads A wearable ECG patch or glucose sensor sending data directly over 5G to physicians—no phone required 📶 3GPP Releases 15–18 for 5G standard are turning these use cases into reality: 🧠 Rel-15: Enabled high-speed diagnostics, HD telemedicine, and AR/VR consults ⚙️ Rel-16: Introduced URLLC and network slicing—critical for robotic surgery, ICUs, and precision monitoring ⌚ Rel-17: RedCap and mMTC brought wearables, sensors, and smart patches into the 5G era 🛰️ Rel-18: Adds eURLLC, AI-managed networks, and satellite 5G for global health equity 💡 Real-World Highlights 🌐 Cleveland Clinic's new hospital built on campus-wide private 5G 📦 Smart patches & wearables powered by RedCap and mMTC 📡 Network slices securing critical-care devices from general traffic 🤖 Telesurgery with <10ms latency in China and Europe 🛰️ 5G satellites reaching rural and disaster-prone regions 🔍 But 5G in healthcare is more than just tech—it’s about ecosystem convergence: 🏥 Hospitals must modernize infrastructure, cybersecurity, and workflows 🔧 Device OEMs are embedding 5G, navigating regulatory approval and SEP licensing 📶 Telcos are tailoring 5G to meet medical-grade reliability and QoS ⚖️ Regulators must adapt telehealth policy, licensing frameworks, and spectrum rules This is not just connectivity—it’s a foundational shift in healthcare delivery, where: 🏡 Homes become clinics 🚑 Ambulances become trauma centers 🌍 Remote areas gain access to world-class specialists 🏥 Hospitals become intelligent platforms #5G #Healthcare #IoMT #Telesurgery #Private5G #DigitalHealth #AIinHealthcare #SmartHospitals #EdgeComputing #Telehealth #MedTech #3GPP

🧲 Magnetic Slime Robots & Healthcare 🏥 In Medical technology, one of the most intriguing and promising innovations is the development of magnetic slime robots. These soft, flexible robots, composed of a magnetic slime material, are poised to revolutionize various aspects of healthcare, offering new possibilities in minimally invasive procedures, targeted drug delivery, and precise medical interventions. 💭 What Are Magnetic Slime Robots? Magnetic slime robots are made from a combination of magnetic particles and a polymer matrix, resulting in a unique material that is both flexible and controllable through external magnetic fields. This allows the slime to navigate complex environments and change shape as needed, making it highly adaptable for various medical applications. 🔑 Key Applications in Healthcare 1️⃣ Minimally Invasive Surgery 🎯 Precision and Flexibility: Magnetic slime robots can be precisely guided to target areas within the body, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. Their flexibility allows them to navigate through tight and complex anatomical structures that traditional surgical instruments cannot reach. 🤕 Reduced Recovery Time: The minimally invasive nature of these robots means smaller incisions and less trauma for patients, leading to quicker recovery times and reduced risk of complications. 2️⃣ Targeted Drug Delivery 🚄 Enhanced Efficacy: By navigating to specific sites within the body, magnetic slime robots can deliver medications directly to affected areas, increasing the efficacy of the treatment while minimizing side effects. 💊 Controlled Release: These robots can be engineered to release drugs in a controlled manner, ensuring that the medication is delivered at the right time and in the right dosage. 3️⃣ Medical Diagnostics: 📸 Improved Imaging: Magnetic slime robots can carry imaging agents to specific parts of the body, enhancing the quality of medical imaging techniques such as MRI and CT scans. This can lead to more accurate diagnoses and better treatment planning. 👩🔬 Biopsy Procedures: These robots can be used to collect tissue samples from hard-to-reach areas, providing valuable diagnostic information with minimal invasiveness. #Healthcare #Innovation #Science #MedTech

🧠 A robot just performed part of a gallbladder removal surgery... by itself. No human hand guiding it. No joystick. Just voice commands, surgical videos, and machine learning. And it nailed it. It identified arteries. Clipped ducts. Cut tissue with precision. All while adapting on the fly—like a seasoned surgeon in an ER, not a pre-programmed machine. This isn’t sci-fi. This is a real advancement from Johns Hopkins. And the craziest part? It was trained exactly like a human medical student—by watching hours of surgical footage and listening to verbal feedback. We're entering an era where AI won't just assist doctors... it might become the doctor. ➡️ This changes everything: Medical training Operating room dynamics Emergency response Liability and ethics The future of surgical care We just crossed a threshold—and there’s no going back. Are we ready for a world where robots not only operate... but understand surgery?

China built a robot surgeon that performs complex brain surgery without making a single incision In a sterile lab in Beijing, Chinese engineers have created a medical marvel: a robotic brain surgeon that treats internal brain conditions without ever cutting open the skull. Instead of scalpels, it uses focused ultrasound waves — guided by MRI imaging — to precisely destroy diseased brain tissue, tumors, or clots, without a single drop of blood. The system, called Tianpeng-1, is guided entirely by AI and real-time neural mapping. The patient lies inside a special chamber while robotic arms align the ultrasound emitter to the exact brain region — accurate to within 0.1 millimeter. A powerful array of sound waves then converge on a deep point, heating and dissolving the target without harming surrounding tissue. This approach, known as High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), has been explored for years. But China’s fully robotic integration — with real-time imaging and AI-adjusted targeting — is a global first. The robot adapts mid-procedure if a patient moves slightly or brain tissue shifts due to heat. Initial trials have already shown success in treating Parkinson’s tremors, epilepsy, and glioblastoma. In one case, a patient’s brain tumor was vaporized in under two hours — with zero incisions and no recovery time. The implications are enormous. No need for scalpels, no hospital stays, and no surgical scars. It could transform rural care too — smaller hospitals could eventually install these systems for on-demand neurological care. China has pushed robotic surgery into a future where precision meets non-invasive healing — with machines that cut without ever touching.