The Rise of AI in Surgery

It’s no secret that over the past couple of years, our lives have been dramatically impacted by the arrival of artificial intelligence. Businesses are making millions of dollars by leveraging AI’s simulation capabilities, teachers and schools are taking active efforts to implement AI in education, and even clinical doctors often use AI to complete patient notes or send emails. AI’s sudden rise to prominence has led to questions regarding ethics and safety, especially in the medical field. However, surgery’s pioneering usage of AI-powered robots in assistive roles has broken down the barrier between AI and medicine. From pinpointing specific nerves or bones to providing advice to surgeons in the midst of a surgery, AI robots are redefining the dynamics of the operating room. 

Surgical AI works by using machine learning algorithms (coded algorithms that allow computers to make decisions based on data) to analyze surgical data, often in the form of images. They are well-renowned for their precision and assistive capabilities, often helping to predict potential complications and providing the necessary tools for the surgeon to operate. One of the most well-known examples of medical AI systems is the DaVinci Surgical System. This system allows for surgeons to control the arms of the medical robot and perform surgery through remote control, while observing the surgical area in 3-D through a camera implanted in the robot. This maneuver has resulted in increased accuracy and reduced complications, as the robot’s mechanical hand lacks the unpredictability of a human hand when performing the delicate tasks of surgery. If that isn’t amazing enough, the robot provides AI-generated feedback according to the camera input, giving the surgeon another perspective to reduce complications. 

Recent developments have improved and advanced the ideologies of the DaVinci System. One groundbreaking development is telesurgery, where doctors operate on patients from thousands of miles away using AI robots. While not widely applied yet, telesurgery could significantly improve healthcare for people in rural and underserved communities, giving them access to high quality doctors and surgeons who may not be in their immediate area. Similarly, the introduction of autonomous robots that can perform simple surgical tasks on their own demonstrates the exciting future of AI in surgery. These robots can assist with stitching and adding/removing tissue, allowing surgeons to rest and keep their focus. However, the further spread of AI-led surgeries are hindered by its primitiveness and concerns for patient safety. These concerns should subside as AI and robotics advance demonstrate more consistency and reliability in their behaviors, which will inevitably happen as research progresses.

Written by Saket Parayil at Incisionary

APA References

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