Inspenet, June 24, 2023.
The transformation is just beginning! Hospitals are undergoing rapid changes with the introduction of autonomous surgical robots in operating rooms and have evolved in ways that would be unrecognizable to healthcare professionals of centuries past. Below we mention some of the changes that could exist in the near future.
robots in hospitals
Surgical robots capable of performing operations on their own are being developed. One of them is the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot , developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, which has three-dimensional vision and uses machine learning algorithms to plan and adapt during surgical interventions.
voice recognition programs
Regarding documentation, voice recognition programs have been implemented to automatically generate clinical notes during patient consultations. Nuance, owned by Microsoft, has released an updated version of its software that uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 to streamline the medical documentation process.
smart toilets
The introduction of smart toilets that can monitor and detect diseases could be another of the innovations present in hospitals. For example, Withings has launched the U-Scan , a urinalysis device that sits in the toilet bowl and can monitor biomarkers like ketone and vitamin C levels. It can also track monthly hormonal fluctuations in women.
virtual reality therapies
Virtual reality therapy is also being used as an effective tool in the field of health. A study carried out by the University of Oxford and Oxford VR showed that virtual reality therapy, called gameChange, is more effective than the traditional one in reducing the symptoms of patients with agoraphobia.
3D organs
Another important advance is the 3D printing of organs. Ear, skin, bone, and mini-organ implants have been 3D printed. These advances in bioprinting open up new possibilities in the field of transplantation and regenerative medicine.
Follow up without physical contact
Contactless tracking is also gaining popularity. Australian and Iraqi engineers have developed a monitor that can measure a patient’s blood pressure without anyone being present. It uses an image processing algorithm to extract vital signs from the patient’s forehead.
Portable equipment for magnetic resonance
Portable MRI scanners are also being developed. Companies like Hyperfine have created devices like the Swoop, an MRI scanner that can be brought into a patient’s room and perform a brain scan in seconds. Although the results have lower resolution than traditional scanners, its price is considerably lower.
smart instruments
Smart surgical instruments like the iKnife can detect diseases like cancer in a matter of seconds. This device combines an electrosurgical blade with a mass spectrometer.
Technology plays a fundamental role in hospitals, as it is crucial in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients. From advanced medical equipment and electronic record systems to telemedicine devices and robotics In surgical surgery, technology improves accuracy, efficiency, and safety in the hospital environment by enabling more accurate diagnoses, facilitating communication between healthcare professionals, streamlining clinical processes, and providing more innovative treatment options.
Photo: https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/comment/what-are-the-main-types-of-robots-used-in-healthcare/