Experimental surgical robot performs gallbladder procedure autonomously
gallbladder operation
, marking a major step toward automated medical procedures, researchers said on Wednesday.
Existing surgical robots are remotely controlled by surgeons. The new system uses artificial intelligence to make independent decisions and adapts to unexpected complications during operations, said Axel Krieger of
Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, who led the research.
He likened it to an autonomous vehicle that can "navigate any road, in any condition, responding intelligently to whatever it encounters."
"This advancement moves us from robots that can execute specific surgical tasks to ones that truly understand surgical procedures," he said.
The
SRT-H robot
was trained via an AI framework known as language-guided imitation learning, using videos of surgeons performing gallbladder removal surgeries on pig cadavers, the researchers reported in Science Robotics.
The robot was tested on eight varying sets of pig gallbladders and livers that had been removed from the animals.
Separating the gallbladder from the liver takes several minutes and involves "diverse tool use, including grabbing, clipping, and cutting - skills common in real surgical procedures," along with decision-making and adaptation, the researchers said.
The pig organs and blood vessels in the tests varied widely in appearance and anatomy, "mirroring the diversity encountered in human surgeries," they said.
While the robot achieved 100% accuracy in the surgeries, it took longer to perform the work than a human surgeon.
Commercially available surgical robots include Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci Surgical System, which has been used in over 12 million procedures globally since receiving FDA approval in 2000.
Unlike SRT-H, the da Vinci system relies entirely on human surgeons to control its movements remotely.
The global surgical robotics market is approaching $10 billion annually with about 2.7 million robotic procedures performed in 2024, Baird analyst David Rescott estimated.
Eventually, autonomous surgical robots could help address surgeon shortages, minimize human error, and provide consistent, high-quality care in underserved regions, the researchers said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Vaidyaratnam's collaboration with foreign universities will benefit Ayurveda: Balagopal
Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal underscored the growing global presence of Ayurveda and pointed out that securing international certification remains one of the major challenges facing the traditional medical system. He was speaking after inaugurating the Vaidyaratnam Founder's Day celebrations here recently. 'Ayurveda must focus on scientific manufacturing of medicines and greater integration with modern science,' stated Mr. Balagopal. He noted that Vaidyaratnam's collaboration with the US-based Johns Hopkins University will significantly enhance the global stature of Ayurveda. The Minister also reiterated the State government's support for such initiatives and praised Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, founded in 1941, for its pivotal role in popularising Ayurveda. Prof. Dr. B. Ananthakrishnan, Vice Chancellor of Kalamandalam, delivered the Ashtavaidyan E.T. Neelakandhan Mooss commemorative address, emphasising the historic connection between art and healing in Kerala. He remarked that both fields share well-defined methodologies and advocated for Ayurveda to be recognised as a viable alternative to dominant Western medical practices, commending Vaidyaratnam's efforts in this direction. Ashtavaidyan Dr. E.T. Neelakandhan Mooss, Managing Director of Vaidyaratnam Group, highlighted the resurgence of Marma Chikitsa and Yoga Therapy, once considered lost traditions. He encouraged experts and students to recognise the contemporary relevance of Marma Chikitsa, noting its potential to further invigorate Ayurveda. The programme also featured a panel discussion on 'Marma and Orthopaedics: Exploring the Intersection of Traditional and Modern Practices.'
Mint
12 hours ago
- Mint
Why Pune's Cafe Goodluck was shut — All you need to know about FDA inspection, glass piece controversy
The famous Cafe Goodluck in Pune is making headlines after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) temporarily suspended its licence, PTI reported. An official claimed that the major step to shut down Pune's famous eatery was taken over hygiene issues. "An inspection was conducted, during which some unhygienic conditions were found. We have suspended the eatery's licence until further orders and necessary compliance," PTI quoted FDA Joint Commissioner Suresh Annapure as saying on Sunday. A few days ago, a video purportedly showing the famous bun maska with a glass piece at the famous eatery went viral. A couple claimed that the glass piece was found in their order at Cafe Goodluck and recorded the footage of the incident, which quickly gained traction on social media. After taking cognisance of viral reports about a glass piece allegedly found in one of Cafe Goodluck's food items, the FDA inspected the food joint, according to the official. The customer, identified as Aakash Jalagi, reported the matter online to the agency responsible for protecting public health, citing a breach of consumer safety. 'It was my weekly off, and I had planned a small date with my wife at FC Road. We went to Cafe Goodluck and ordered tea along with Bun Maska. When my wife took a bite, she felt a transparent, hard substance in her mouth," Pune Times Mirror quoted the customer, a resident of Dhayari. Accusing the restaurant of negligence in food preparation, Aakash Jalagi said, 'Initially, we thought it was ice, but on checking, we realised it was a piece of glass. It could have caused serious internal injuries had she swallowed it.'
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
FDA suspends license of Pune's famous 'Cafe Goodluck': Here's everything about the glass controversy
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday suspended the license of Pune 's famous restaurant ' Cafe Goodluck ' over hygiene and safety issues. This comes after a video allegedly showing a glass pieces in a bun at the eatery spread across social media. "An inspection was conducted, during which some unhygienic conditions were found. We have suspended the eatery's licence until further orders and necessary compliance," FDA Joint Commissioner Suresh Annapure told PTI on Sunday. The FDA conducted an inspection at the food joint after taking cognisance of reports about the alleged glass pieces in a bun. A couple claimed to have found the glass pieces in the bun muska they had ordered at Cafe Goodluck and recorded a video to post on social media. Live Events The costumer later spoke to Pune Times Mirror and said, 'It was my weekly off, and I had planned a small date with my wife at FC Road. We went to Cafe Goodluck and ordered tea along with Bun Maska. When my wife took a bite, she felt a transparent, hard substance in her mouth." He also accused Cafe Goodluck of negligence in food preparations. 'Initially, we thought it was ice, but on checking, we realised it was a piece of glass. It could have caused serious internal injuries had she swallowed it.' The owner of Cafe Goodluck, Kasim Irani, confirmed about the incident and said that the loaf of bread is sourced from an external bakery. The staff had apoligised and given a waiver on the bill. However, the costumer said that incident was handled casually, which prompted him to file a complaint.
