TLDR Autonomous robotic surgery is advancing but still requires human supervision for complex procedures.
Autonomous robotic surgery, integrating AI and ML, is progressing with applications in venipuncture, hair implantations, and knee replacements. Historical milestones include the first surgical robot in 1985 and the ARTAS Robotic Hair Restoration System in 2005. The Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR) demonstrated superior performance in autonomous bowel anastomosis in 2016. Despite promising results, challenges such as handling complex procedures, perception, feedback, ethical, and legal issues persist. Current regulations advocate for human supervision in high-risk surgeries. The technology aims to assist rather than replace human surgeons, enhancing precision and consistency.
31 citations,
November 2013 in “Dermatologic Clinics” The ARTAS robotic system for hair restoration is efficient with fewer cuts than manual methods, but it's limited to certain hair types and can still leave scars.
1 citations,
January 2021 in “Dermatological reviews” Hair transplantation improves androgenetic alopecia with high patient satisfaction.
June 2020 in “Applied sciences” A new semi-automatic hair implanter could make hair transplants easier, more successful, and more accessible.
November 2023 in “Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal” A single robotic system can accurately harvest and implant hair grafts, showing promise for real-world use.
September 2024 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Robotic hair transplants are easier and quicker to learn than traditional methods.
September 2023 in “Chinese Medical Journal” Robotic surgical systems are being used more in plastic and reconstructive surgery due to their precision and control, improving patient outcomes and satisfaction, despite challenges like high costs.
