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Watching surgery videos allows 'medical robots' to acquire precise skills, matching human doctors
Imagine a future where complex surgeries can be performed autonomously by medical robots, with precision and safety equivalent to a human experience. This scenario, once the stuff of science fiction, is now one step closer to reality, thanks to impressive advances in machine learning and surgical robotics.
The innovation of imitation learning in medical robots
The idea of teaching a robot by watching videos is both simple and revolutionary. Think about the amount of movement a person goes through during surgery: every cut, stitch, and movement of the instrument is orchestrated with precision.
Traditionally, for a robot to perform a task like this, it would have to be programmed with each of these movements – a time-consuming and complex process. But now, thanks to imitation learning, the robot can “absorb” the surgeons’ movements, observing and understanding how each task should be performed.
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The technology behind innovation
To create this façade, a team used the famous da Vinci robotic system, a device widely used in hospitals and clinics around the world. Although the da Vinci System is one of the most advanced in the field, there are still challenges – it is not as precise as one would like.
Rather than programming the robot to reproduce specific, absolute movements, the researchers found that training it to replicate related movements (relative to the environment and the specific task) was the key to success.
This breakthrough offers a creative solution to a long-standing problem: how can we empower robots to perform complex medical tasks accurately and safely? Axel Krieger, one of the study’s senior authors, explains: “Having this model is truly magical. We feed the system camera data and it can predict the robotic movements needed for surgery.”
Performance and skill in practical surgeries
The robot’s training included fundamental tasks such as needle manipulation, tissue elevation and suturing – basic elements of many surgeries. In each case, the robot trained on the team’s model, performing the tasks with the same skill as a human movement. Krieger tells an interesting anecdote: during one of the training sessions, the robot accidentally dropped a needle, but surprisingly it picked it up again and continued suturing without the need for human intervention.
This type of technology promises to speed up the training of robots for various procedures, reducing the pace of development and increasing accessibility to robotic surgery. Previously, modeling a suture could take years, requiring manual ordering of each movement.
With imitation learning, that time can be limited to days. Imagine the impact this could have on healthcare: fewer medical errors, faster and more accessible procedures, and greater precision in operations that unlock a level of detail. high.
Next steps: complete surgeries performed by robots
A team of researchers is already planning the next step: using the model to train robots to perform entire surgeries, not just individual tasks. With the potential to revolutionize the way we perform medical procedures, the positive impact of this technology could be huge, especially in areas where access to specialist doctors is limited.
The journey of medical robotics is still in its early stages, but the potential is undeniable. With over 7.000 da Vinci robots in use around the world and a vast database of surgical videos, the future of robotic medicine looks bright.
The idea of a robot that observes, learns and performs could redefine what we mean by healthcare and open the door to a world where robots and humans work together, side by side, to save lives and improve the quality of care.
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