Informative Speech Diagram - Medical Robots

“Medical Robots: From Science Fiction to Science Fact” Maureen Schrader lay on the operating table at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. Four mechanical arms moved with precision around her abdomen. One arm held a high-definition camera. The other three arms used small surgical instruments to make a five-centimeter incision just below her ribcage. It was a tiny opening, but it was big enough to put a new kidney into Maureen’s body. At no point in the operation did the surgeon touch Maureen. In fact, he sat several feet away peering into a monitor and holding what looked like video game controls. The movements of surgeon’s hands were digitally captured and sent to the robotic arms, which mimicked his every movement. The robot became an extension of the surgeon, and together they transplanted the kidney. Robots in the operating room are now a reality, and the next operation you or a family member undergoes may well involve a robot. But surgery is just one area in which robots are changing modern medicine. As a pre-med student interested in becoming a surgeon, I have long been fascinated by medical robots. After researching the topic for this speech, I’d like to introduce you to the world of medical robots. We’ll look a t three kinds of robots in particular — orderly robots, remote- presence robots, and surgical robots. Let’s begin with orderly robots. Orderly robots help hospital staff accomplish routine tasks. Their primary job is to transport medicine, food, and lab supplies — and to do so without a human by their side. Here’s one of the most popular orderly robots— the TUG, or tug robot — which, according to its manufacturer, is used in more than 100 hospitals in the United States alone. A September 2010 story in Discovery News explains how the robot works. Relying on a digital map of the hospital, the robot moves from room to room to pick up and drop off supplies. It senses people and obstacles by what are called “light whiskers”— invisible beams of sonar, infrared, and laser. These light whiskers are represented by the different colored lines you see in this drawing. They constantly scan the environment to avoid collisions. TUG robots can also communicate with one another about the best route to a location given current hallway conditions. They are highly efficient and make fewer delivery errors than people. Mark Weigel, director of food services at Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Maryland, notes that the TUG robot “never argues with patients, takes no breaks, is always polite and always on time.” But orderly robots are not the only robots transforming modern medicine. Remote-presence robots help doctors visit their patients even when they are not in the same room. “Remote presence” means that the doctor is able to be “present” with the patient even when the doctor is in a “remote” location. Introduction Attention getter; grab the audience’s attention; engaging the audience. Device used: Narrative Introduction -narrative continued Introduction - Purpose, reason for making speech; credibility Introduction Preview of main points with a transition to first main point Title of Speech Description - support of first main point - orderly robots Citation of source – paraphrase support, evidence of use of orderly robots Citation of source – direct quote support, evidence of use of orderly robots Transition to second main point Description - support of second main point - orderly robots