Are Medical Professionals Being Replaced By Technology?

Al). This includes the increase in dexterity, the restore of proper hand-eye coordination, and improvement of visualization (Meyers et al.). In Cameron Scott’s article from the Healthline News, “Is da Vinci Robotic Surgery a Revolution or a Ripoff?,” he states that robotic devices including the da Vinci surgical device succeeds well in urology and the removal of prostate. Prostate removal is extremely difficult for open surgery practice, however the da Vinci made is easier with about 90 percent of these kinds of surgeries are now done robotically (Scott). Some evidence even suggest that with robotics used in prostatectomy, there is less blood loss, faster recovery, and fewer internal scarring (Scott.). There are many other examples from hospitals and manufactures that support the uses of robotic surgery and its benefits. However, even though these new technologies of robotic devices are supposedly be helping patients and making surgeries less invasive, they are still many concerns of how they should be properly regulated.

Medical technology encompasses a wide range of healthcare products and is used to diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases or medical conditions that affect humans. This may included but not limited too, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical equipment. Such technologies are intended to improve the quality of healthcare delivered through earlier diagnosis, less invasive treatment options and reductions in hospital stays and rehabilitation times. Recent advances in medical technology have also focused on cost reduction. Medical technology may include medical devices, information technology, biotech, and healthcare services. The impacts of medical technology may involve social and ethical issues. For example physicians may seek objective information from technology rather than listening to subjective patient reports. A major contributor of healthcare expenditure in America is the advancement of medical technology. According to several studies it is shown that there is a correlation between the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and money allocated to healthcare. One of the leading theories is that medical technology is growing faster than expected.

Technology has been advancing with the years, and it has changed how people live, communicate, travel, and learn. In particular, healthcare has changed due to the continuous technological advancements. Robotic advancements specifically have been transforming the health care industry. It is becoming noticeable that robotics are now being used for a variety of purposes in healthcare including drug making, moving supplies, administering drugs to patients, and monitoring patient vitals. A progressing form of robotics in healthcare is robotic surgery. One of the top functioning robotic surgery devices is the da Vinci Surgical System. Since 2000, surgical device has completed over 20,000 surgeries, which has set up the movement of using

As technology improves, surgical robots are rapidly gaining support among both doctors and patients across America. Today more than 900 hospitals have the da Vinci robot which is double the number in 2007. (Freyer, 2010) Da Vinci robots were first approved by the FDA in 2000 for prostate removal, but now da Vinci robots are used for a variety of other surgical procedures (Freyer, 2010). Robot assisted surgery offers advantages such as smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less pain and faster healing time (Vijay, 2010), as well as making surgery less demanding for the surgeon. Robotic surgery involves many obvious advantages but the impact of cost, access, and quality must

According to Penn Medicine, robotic-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive surgery in which instruments and cameras are inserted using small incisions. What is different, however, is that the surgeon is sitting at a station next to the patient (Penn Medicine, 2015). During these procedures, robotic ‘arms’ are manipulated using hand and foot controls to perform the procedures. It is always important to note that it is the surgeon performing the surgery, not the robot. These, like any other instruments, are tools that are designed for use by those that are skilled in using them. An expertise in using robotics is essential so as to have success for the procedure.

The da Vinci Surgical System developed by Intuitive Surgical was actually developed to help perform surgical procedures in adverse environmental conditions or remote places or zones of conflict where the safety of a surgical team could be compromised. But, as the system was used in practical situations it became evident that it would be best to use it in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The da Vinci converts the movements of a surgeon into electronic signals which are then relayed to instruments which are then able to perform surgical steps without the effect of tremors if any in the surgeon’s movements. It is also incorporated with a camera which relays a stereoscopic picture to the monitor through which the surgeon can see the events in real time. This system was approved by FDA in 2001. The various surgical procedures that the da Vinci has performed include heart bypass operations, renal transplant procedure, gall bladder operations and laparoscopic surgeries. The Endowrist was also developed by the same company and it resulted in a design which was similar to a human hand and could perform all the movements in all ranges like the surgeon’s hand but it was more flexible, accurate and provided better manipulation of instruments as compared to a human

Although robotic assisted surgery has grown worldwide, and particularly in the United States where more than 67% of all da Vinci robots are installed, but as with any disruptive technology it faces some skepticism and challenges.

Robot assisted surgeries are surgical procedures which utilize a robotic system controlled by a physician or a surgeon (via a computer). The robotic system is equipped with a camera to help the operator see the organ being operated upon. These systems are known for their precision, accuracy, delicacy, and overall efficient controlling options. [3] Since their invention, they have been, and currently are used in urological, neurological, endoscopic, cardiovascular, and gynecological surgeries. Robot assisted surgeries have been in practice since 1990 after the approval of the technology by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), although the history of Robot assisted surgery dates back to 1985 when it was first used to perform a neurological biopsy. [1]

This robotic device can be used for several different surgical procedures ranging from gynecology surgeries to cancer procedures. Three components comprise the da Vinci surgery system: a high definition 3 dimensional vision system, a surgeon console and a patient cart. The patient cart contains four interactive robotic arms that are controlled by the surgeon during surgery. The robotic arms each hold the surgical instruments needed to perform the surgery. One of the robotic arms also holds a camera so the surgeon can view the surgical area he needs to perform on. While seated at the surgeon console, the da Vinci surgeon views the patient and the surgical field through a remarkable clear 3 dimensional screen. Forceps controls are also provided for the surgeon to manipulate the four interactive robotic arms. Each surgical instrument copies the surgeon’s movement to perform the surgery.

In a robot-assisted operation, the surgeon uses a console to control robotic arms wielding surgical tools (SN: 11/12/16 p. 18). Surgical robots are increasingly being used for procedures such as tumor removal and organ transplants because the machines help doctors maneuver more precisely.

In summary, the Da Vinci Robot system provides a surgeon with a great deal of control, range of motion, fine tissue handling capability and a 3-D viewing system. It also allows the doctor to work through tiny incisions that is characteristic of minimally invasive surgery.

A Massachusetts doctor estimated that the average American will undergo about 5.97 surgical procedures in the operating room in their lifetime, and with the population rising, surgeons in the United States will need to perform more surgeries than ever before (Lee). Since the beginning of modern medicine, new technology has been rapidly introduced to aid surgeons. In 1985, the first robotic surgery occurred, and at the turn of the 21st century, the FDA approved the da Vinci Surgical System (Whitlock). Patients today can undergo robotic-assisted surgery from the da Vinci Surgical System, but this type of surgery remains the center of controversy. Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is safe, ethical, and a good option for both patients and surgeons because it uses small incisions which decrease blood loss, it can improve recovery time and reduce complications, and it can improve surgical control.

The Da Vinci Surgical System is a large purpose-built robot controlled by a surgeon that performs minimally invasive surgical procedures on patients. The system incorporates an ergonomically designed surgeon's console, a patient-side module with four interactive robotic arms, each with interchangeable surgical instruments and a 3-dimensional endoscopic vision system. Powered by high-tech supercomputers, the surgeon's hand movements are scaled, filtered and then converted into precise movements of the surgical attachments. The designers of the system are a team of doctors, engineers and biomedical engineers at a company called Intuitive Surgical.

Technology is transforming the medical field with the design of robotic devices and multifaceted imaging. Even though these developments have made operations much less invasive, robotic systems have their own disadvantages that prevent them from replacing surgeons all together. Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is a broad notion encompassing a lot of common procedures that existed prior to the introduction of robots. It refers to general procedures that keep away from long cuts by entering the body through small, usually about 1cm, entry incisions, through which surgeons use long-handled instruments to operate on tissue inside the body. Such operations are directed by viewing equipment and, therefore, do not automatically need the use of a robot. Yet, it is not incorrect to say that computer-assisted and robotic surgeries are categories that fall under minimally invasive surgery (Robotic Surgery, n.d.).

The beginning use of surgical robots within medical setting benefits the surgeon as well as the patient; it gives the da Vinci Surgical System a bright future within today’s society.