Humanoid Robots Perform First Gallbladder Surgeries on Pigs
The successful procedures at UC San Diego mark a significant step toward potential human trials for robotic surgery.
Humanoid robots have successfully performed gallbladder removal surgeries on pigs, a first that researchers at the University of California San Diego believe could significantly advance the future of surgical procedures.
The findings were published on July 8 in the journal Nature. The research team, which has nicknamed the robots "Surgie," conducted two separate operations. In the first, one humanoid robot performed the surgery with human assistance. In the second, two humanoid robots completed the procedure collaboratively.
Dr. Ryan Broderick, interim director of the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego, described the outcome as a successful proof of concept. Unlike existing robotic surgical systems, these humanoid machines are compact, featuring heads and arms, and occupy less space, potentially making them suitable for a wider range of environments.
Researchers suggest this compact design could enable the robots to operate in remote locations or smaller facilities where traditional surgical systems are not practical. Dr. Shanglei Liu, a colorectal surgeon at UC San Diego, noted that this could improve access to surgical care in underserved areas.
The technology also presents a potential solution to hospital staffing shortages by augmenting the capacity of medical teams to perform more operations. Michael Yip, a UC San Diego professor, stated that the work demonstrates the feasibility of using humanoid robots in operating rooms for life-saving procedures.