The first-ever remote surgery in orbit was accomplished by Earthbound medical professionals who utilized a tiny robot on the International Space Station (ISS) to perform a surgical procedure.
The experiment, despite being done with rubber bands, was considered a “huge success” by the participants.
According to Virtual Incision’s statement, “the experiment was deemed a huge success by all surgeons and researchers, and there were little to no hiccups,” and it will “change the future of surgery.”
Additionally, the technology might be used to create Earth-based remote-control surgical methods that would serve remote regions.
The robot that Virtual Incision (VIC) and the University of Nebraska built is dubbed spaceMIRA, and it is the reason behind this remarkable accomplishment.
The microwave-sized robot was launched at the end of January on a SpaceX rocket, and it was placed on the International Space Station (ISS) by NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara earlier this month.
Six doctors attempted to operate the robot with two arms and a camera during the roughly two-hour experiment, which was run out of Virtual Incision’s Lincoln, Nebraska headquarters.
The investigation examined common surgical methods, such as grabbing, moving, and slicing tissue. Rubber bands make up the synthetic tissue, according to a statement from Virtual Incision.
In a company-shared video, one arm with pincers is seen holding and extending the band, while the other arm with scissors cuts, simulating a dissection.
One major challenge is the 0.85-second time difference between the ISS and the Earth-based operation center.
The identical procedure will be carried out on Earth using the same apparatus for a control experiment.
Longer space trips “potentially increase the need for emergency care, including surgical procedures from simple stitching of lacerations to more complex activities,” according to NASA, which gave some financial assistance for the experiment.
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