WASHINGTON: Earth-based surgeons controlled a small robot on the International Space Station, marking the first such surgery in orbit – although it was conducted on rubber bands.
The successful experiment is a significant development in the advancement of space surgery, which could be crucial for treating medical emergencies during long-term manned space missions, such as those to Mars.
This technology could also have applications on Earth for developing remote-control surgery techniques in isolated areas.
The robot, named spaceMIRA, was created by Virtual Incision (VIC) and the University of Nebraska. It was sent to the International Space Station on a SpaceX rocket at the end of January.
The robot, which is about the size of a microwave oven, was installed on the space station by Nasa astronaut Loral O’Hara, who has been in space since last September.
The experiment took place on Saturday, with surgeons at Virtual Incision’s headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska remotely operating the robot for about two hours. The robot is equipped with a camera and two arms.
Standard surgical techniques like grasping, manipulating, and cutting tissue were tested using rubber bands as simulated tissue, Virtual Incision said in a statement.
In a video shared by the company, one arm equipped with pincers can be seen stretching a rubber band while the other arm equipped with scissors made a cut, simulating a dissection.
A key challenge is the time lag – about 0.85 seconds – between the operation center on Earth and the ISS.
For a control experiment, the same process will be conducted with the same equipment, but on Earth.
Virtual Incision stated that the experiment was a huge success and will “change the future of surgery.” Nasa, which provided financial support for the project, highlighted the potential need for emergency care, including surgical procedures, on longer space missions. – AFP
