Automated robot successfully operated pig intestines

Thanks to an advanced algorithm and imaging system, the STAR robot performs laparoscopic surgery on pigs without human assistance.

Johns Hopkins University announced on January 26 that the Intelligent Tissue Automated Robot (STAR) successfully performed soft-tissue surgery on four pigs and called it an important step forward in fully automated surgery on humans. people. Details are published in the journal Science Robotics.

STAR can perform laparoscopic surgery on pig soft tissue without human assistance.

Specifically, STAR has precisely connected the two ends of the intestine - a difficult procedure in gastrointestinal surgery, requiring doctors to use sutures with high precision and consistency. Just a slight misalignment of the hand or stitches can lead to leakage and serious complications for the patient.

This is the first time a robot has performed laparoscopic surgery without human assistance, said Professor Axel Krieger at Johns Hopkins University, a member of the research team. "The new results show that we can automate one of the most complex and delicate tasks in surgery: reconnecting the two ends of the intestine. STAR performed the surgery on four animals and gave good results. significantly better than humans when performing the same procedure," Krieger said.

The new STAR robot is an improvement from the 2016 version that operated on the intestines of pigs, but then required a large incision to access the intestines and required more guidance from a human.

In the new test, STAR is guided by a tracking algorithm based on machine learning technology. This algorithm was developed by professor Jin Kang at Johns Hopkins University and his students. In addition, the robot also uses a special endoscope. New features for improved surgical precision, including specialized suture tools and an imaging system that provide more accurate images.

Soft tissue surgery presents a particular challenge with robots because of its unpredictable nature. If an obstacle arises during the implementation, the robot must quickly adapt to handle it. STAR is equipped with a new control system that can adjust the surgical plan in real time like a doctor.

"STAR is the first robotic system to plan, adapt and execute a soft tissue surgical plan with minimal human intervention. That's what makes STAR special," said scientist Hamed Saeidi, members of the research group, comments.