The convergence of biomedical science and robotics has ushered in an era of innovation and transformation within healthcare. This article, delves into the profound impact of this synergy, showcasing their symbiotic relationship and the potential they hold in revolutionizing patient care, medical research and healthcare delivery. From the evolution of surgical robots to advancements in medical imaging, we explore how this collaboration is redefining the boundaries of what's achievable. The exploration extends to social robots that alleviate caregiver workloads and therapeutic robots that aid patient recovery. While the benefits are evident, challenges and ethical considerations are also scrutinized. As we explore the dynamic intersection of technology and medicine, a promising transformation emerges, offering the potential for improved clinical outcomes and fresh opportunities in healthcare. This article aims to offer readers insights into the importance, challenges and possible future advancements in the fusion of biomedical science and robotics. It serves as a call to action for researchers, scientists and healthcare professionals to continually push the boundaries, explore uncharted territories and leverage this synergy to bring us closer to a world of healthier and happier lives.
Citation: Induni N. Weerarathna, Anurag Luharia. Exploring the nexus of biomedical science and robots for enhanced clinical outcomes—a literature review[J]. AIMS Bioengineering, 2024, 11(1): 1-17. doi: 10.3934/bioeng.2024001
The convergence of biomedical science and robotics has ushered in an era of innovation and transformation within healthcare. This article, delves into the profound impact of this synergy, showcasing their symbiotic relationship and the potential they hold in revolutionizing patient care, medical research and healthcare delivery. From the evolution of surgical robots to advancements in medical imaging, we explore how this collaboration is redefining the boundaries of what's achievable. The exploration extends to social robots that alleviate caregiver workloads and therapeutic robots that aid patient recovery. While the benefits are evident, challenges and ethical considerations are also scrutinized. As we explore the dynamic intersection of technology and medicine, a promising transformation emerges, offering the potential for improved clinical outcomes and fresh opportunities in healthcare. This article aims to offer readers insights into the importance, challenges and possible future advancements in the fusion of biomedical science and robotics. It serves as a call to action for researchers, scientists and healthcare professionals to continually push the boundaries, explore uncharted territories and leverage this synergy to bring us closer to a world of healthier and happier lives.
[1] | Saeidi H, Le HND, Opfermann JD, et al. (2019) Autonomous laparoscopic robotic suturing with a novel actuated suturing tool and 3D endoscope. 2019 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2019: 1541-1547. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICRA.2019.8794306 |
[2] | Morgan AA, Abdi J, Syed MAQ, et al. (2022) Robots in healthcare: a scoping review. Curr Robot Rep 3: 271-280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43154-022-00095-4 |
[3] | Alexovič M, Urban PL, Tabani H, et al. (2020) Recent advances in robotic protein sample preparation for clinical analysis and other biomedical applications. Clin Chim Acta 507: 104-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2020.04.015 |
[4] | Bajwa J, Munir U, Nori A, et al. (2021) Artificial intelligence in healthcare: transforming the practice of medicine. Future Healthc J 8: e188-e194. https://doi.org/10.7861/fhj.2021-0095 |
[5] | George EI, Brand TC, LaPorta A, et al. (2018) Origins of robotic surgery: From skepticism to standard of care. JSLS 22: e2018.00039. https://doi.org/10.4293/JSLS.2018.00039 |
[6] | Martinic G (2014) Glimpses of future battlefield medicine-the proliferation of robotic surgeons and unmanned vehicles and technologies. J Mil Veterans Health 22: 4-12. https://doi/10.3316/informit.935366340330586 |
[7] | Hashimoto DA, Rosman G, Rus D, et al. (2018) Artificial intelligence in surgery: promises and perils. Ann Surg 268: 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000002693 |
[8] | Raje S, Reddy N, Jerbi H, et al. (2021) Applications of healthcare robots in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Appl Bionics Biomech 2021: 7099510. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7099510 |
[9] | Ranzani R, Lambercy O, Metzger JC, et al. (2020) Neurocognitive robot-assisted rehabilitation of hand function: a randomized control trial on motor recovery in subacute stroke. J NeuroEngineering Rehabil 17: 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-020-00746-7 |
[10] | Deo N, Anjankar A (2023) Artificial intelligence with robotics in healthcare: a narrative review of its viability in India. Cureus 15: e39416. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39416 |
[11] | DelveInsight Blog, How Robots Are Introducing A New Dimension To Healthcare Service Delivery (2021). Available from: https://www.delveinsight.com/blog/robotics-in-healthcare |
[12] | Cleary K, Nguyen C (2001) State of the art in surgical robotics: clinical applications and technology challenges. Comput Aided Surg 6: 312-328. https://doi.org/10.3109/10929080109146301 |
[13] | Khalid MY, Arif ZU, Ahmed W, et al. (2022) 4D printing: Technological developments in robotics applications. Sens Actuators Phys 343: 113670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2022.113670 |
[14] | Spiegel CA, Hippler M, Münchinger A, et al. (2020) 4D printing at the microscale. Adv Funct Mater 30: 1907615. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201907615 |
[15] | Hann SY, Cui H, Nowicki M, et al. (2020) 4D printing soft robotics for biomedical applications. Addit Manuf 36: 101567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2020.101567 |
[16] | Niu D, Li D, Chen J, et al. (2022) SMA-based soft actuators with electrically responsive and photoresponsive deformations applied in soft robots. Sens Actuators Phys 341: 113516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2022.113516 |
[17] | Ma S, Zhang Y, Wang M, et al. (2020) Recent progress in 4D printing of stimuli-responsive polymeric materials. Sci China Technol Sci 63: 532-544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-019-1443-1 |
[18] | Zolfagharian A, Kaynak A, Kouzani A (2020) Closed-loop 4D-printed soft robots. Mater Des 188: 108411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2019.108411 |
[19] | Bastola AK, Hossain M (2021) The shape – morphing performance of magnetoactive soft materials. Mater Des 211: 110172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2021.110172 |
[20] | Sachyani Keneth E, Lieberman R, Rednor M, et al. (2020) Multi-material 3D printed shape memory polymer with tunable melting and glass transition temperature activated by heat or light. Polymers 12: 710. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030710 |
[21] | (2023) National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Organizational Structure of the National Institutes of HealthEnhancing the Vitality of the National Institutes of Health: Organizational Change to Meet New Challenges. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US), New Opportunities, New Challenges: The Changing Nature of Biomedical Science. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK43496/ |
[22] | Bramhe S, Pathak SS (2022) Robotic surgery: a narrative review. Cureus 14: e29179. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.29179 |
[23] | ETHealthworld.com, Emerging Robotic Technologies in Healthcare: Pioneering Path to Enhanced Precision-ET Health World (2023). Available from: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/emerging-robotic-technologies-in-healthcare-pioneering-path-to-enhanced-precision/102626931 |
[24] | Yang Y, Wang H (2013) Perspectives of nanotechnology in minimally invasive therapy of breast cancer. J Healthc Eng 4: 67-86. https://doi.org/10.1260/2040-2295.4.1.67 |
[25] | Linte CA, Yaniv Z (2014) When change happens: computer assistance and image guidance for minimally invasive therapy. Healthc Technol Lett 1: 2-5. https://doi.org/10.1049/htl.2014.0058 |
[26] | Li J, Wang H, Cui J, et al. (2019) Magnetic micromachine using nickel nanoparticles for propelling and releasing in indirect assembly of cell-laden micromodules. Micromachines 10: 370. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10060370 |
[27] | Pankhurst QA, Connolly J, Jones SK, et al. (2003) Applications of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedicine. J Phys Appl Phys 36: R167. https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/36/13/201 |
[28] | Alexiou C, Arnold W, Klein RJ, et al. (2000) Locoregional cancer treatment with magnetic drug targeting. Cancer Res 60: 6641-6648. |
[29] | Molday RS, MacKenzie D (1982) Immunospecific ferromagnetic iron-dextran reagents for the labeling and magnetic separation of cells. J Immunol Methods 52: 353-367. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1759(82)90007-2 |
[30] | Koleoso M, Feng X, Xue Y, et al. (2020) Micro/nanoscale magnetic robots for biomedical applications. Mater Today Bio 8: 100085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2020.100085 |
[31] | Zhang D, Gorochowski TE, Marucci L, et al. (2023) Advanced medical micro-robotics for early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Front Robot AI 9: 1086043. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2022.1086043 |
[32] | Athanasopoulou K, Daneva GN, Adamopoulos PG, et al. (2022) Artificial intelligence: the milestone in modern biomedical research. BioMedInformatics 2: 727-744. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedinformatics2040049 |
[33] | Fiorini P, Goldberg KY, Liu Y, et al. (2022) Concepts and trends in autonomy for robot-assisted surgery. Proc IEEE 110: 993-1011. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2022.3176828 |
[34] | Da Vinci Surgical System - an overview, ScienceDirect Topics. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/da-vinci-surgical-system |
[35] | Mustafa, Lakeland Surgical & Diagnostic Center, The Xenex LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robot (2017). Available from: https://lsdc.net/lsdc-news/xenex-lightstrike-germ-zapping-robot/ |
[36] | PARO Therapeutic Robot. Available from: http://www.parorobots.com/ |
[37] | Cyberknife-an overview, ScienceDirect Topics. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cyberknife |
[38] | TUG Robot Mercy. Available from: https://www.mercy.net/about/mercy-technology-services/tug-robot |
[39] | Performed R in the medical field are transforming how surgeries are, Delivery SS, disinfection, et al. Intel, Robotics in Healthcare: The Future of Robots in Medicine. Available from: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/healthcare-it/robotics-in-healthcare.html |
[40] | Beasley RA (2012) Medical robots: current systems and research directions. J Robot 2012: 401613. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/401613 |
[41] | Morris B (2005) Robotic surgery: applications, limitations, and impact on surgical education. MedGenMed 7: 72. |
[42] | Gyles C (2019) Robots in medicine. Can Vet J 60: 819-820. |
[43] | Intelligent Automation Technology for Healthcare | LinkedIn. Available from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/intelligent-automation-technology-healthcare-derek-friend/?trk=pulse-article_more-articles_related-content-card |
[44] | Kitsios F, Kamariotou M, Syngelakis AI, et al. (2023) Recent advances of artificial intelligence in healthcare: A systematic literature review. Appl Sci 13: 7479. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137479 |
[45] | Robotics: Technological Advancement of India by 2020 and Beyond - Page 2 of 2 - Electronics For You (2014). Available from: https://www.electronicsforu.com/technology-trends/robotics-technological-advancement-india-2020-beyond/2 |
[46] | Research in medical robotics issuu. Available from: https://issuu.com/clinicalresearchinsider/docs/clir_2_english/s/11146942 |
[47] | St Mart JP, Goh EL (2021) The current state of robotics in total knee arthroplasty. EFORT Open Rev 6: 270-279. https://doi.org/10.1302/2058-5241.6.200052 |
[48] | Chen Y, Godage IS, Sengupta S, et al. (2019) MR-conditional steerable needle robot for intracerebral hemorrhage removal. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg 14: 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-018-1854-z |
[49] | Wu Z, Chen D, Pan C, et al. (2023) Surgical robotics for intracerebral hemorrhage treatment: state of the art and future directions. Ann Biomed Eng 51: 1933-1941. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03295-x |
[50] | Holland J, Kingston L, McCarthy C, et al. (2021) Service robots in the healthcare sector. Robotics 10: 47. https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics10010047 |
[51] | Parul Saini, Webmedy Team, Ways Medical Robots can Enhance Healthcare (2023). Available from: https://webmedy.com/blog/ways-medical-robots-can-enhance-healthcare |
[52] | González-González CS, Violant-Holz V, Gil-Iranzo RM (2021) Social robots in hospitals: a systematic review. Appl Sci 11: 5976. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135976 |
[53] | Chang WH, Kim YH (2013) Robot-assisted therapy in stroke rehabilitation. J Stroke 15: 174-181. https://doi.org/10.5853/jos.2013.15.3.174 |
[54] | The Observer, Robot surgeons provide many benefits, but how autonomous should they be?. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jun/18/robot-surgeons-provide-many-benefits-but-how-autonomous-should-they-be. |
[55] | Lee C, Kim M, Kim YJ, et al. (2017) Soft robot review. Int J Control Autom Syst 15: 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12555-016-0462-3 |
[56] | Deimel R, Brock O (2016) A novel type of compliant and underactuated robotic hand for dexterous grasping. Int J Robot Res 35: 161-185. https://doi.org/10.1177/0278364915592961 |
[57] | Shepherd RF, Ilievski F, Choi W, et al. (2011) Multigait soft robot. Proc Natl Acad Sci 108: 20400-20403. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1116564108 |
[58] | Carpi F, Mannini A, De Rossi D (2009) Dynamic splint-like hand orthosis for finger rehabilitation. Biomedical applications of electroactive polymer actuators. UK: John Wiley & Sons 443-461. |
[59] | Sahrmann SA (1988) Diagnosis by the physical therapist-a prerequisite for treatment: a special communication. Phys Ther 68: 1703-1706. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/68.11.1703 |
[60] | Anderson IA, Gisby TA, McKay TG, et al. (2012) Multi-functional dielectric elastomer artificial muscles for soft and smart machines. J Appl Phys 112: 041101. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4740023 |
[61] | Nilsson M, Ingvast J, Wikander J, et al. (2012) The Soft Extra Muscle system for improving the grasping capability in neurological rehabilitation. 2012 IEEE-EMBS Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Sciences 2012: 412-417. |
[62] | Tanaka Y, Sato K, Shimizu T, et al. (2007) A micro-spherical heart pump powered by cultured cardiomyocytes. Lab Chip 7: 207-212. https://doi.org/10.1039/B612082B |
[63] | Fang BK, Ju MS, Lin CCK (2007) A new approach to develop ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMC) actuator: Fabrication and control for active catheter systems. Sens Actuators Phys 137: 321-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2007.03.024 |
[64] | Ashuri T, Armani A, Jalilzadeh Hamidi R, et al. (2020) Biomedical soft robots: current status and perspective. Biomed Eng Lett 10: 369-385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-020-00157-6 |
[65] | Kanaan AF, Pinho AC, Piedade AP (2021) Electroactive polymers obtained by conventional and non-conventional technologies. Polymers 13: 2713. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162713 |
[66] | Weber J Medical device with electroactive polymer powered by photovoltaic cell (2014). U.S. Patent: US8744568B2 |
[67] | Lipson H (2014) Challenges and opportunities for design, simulation, and fabrication of soft robots. Soft Robot 1: 21-27. https://doi.org/10.1089/soro.2013.0007 |
[68] | Majidi C (2014) Soft robotics: a perspective—current trends and prospects for the future. Soft Robot 1: 5-11. http://doi.org/10.1089/soro.2013.0001 |
[69] | Wang H, Totaro M, Beccai L (2018) Toward perceptive soft robots: progress and challenges. Adv Sci 5: 1800541. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201800541 |
[70] | Rus D, Tolley MT (2015) Design, fabrication and control of soft robots. Nature 521: 467-475. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14543 |
[71] | Yang D, Mosadegh B, Ainla A, et al. (2015) Buckling of elastomeric beams enables actuation of soft machines. Adv Mater 27: 6323-6327. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201503188 |
[72] | Armitage C (2019) Small advances amount to big changes in biomedical sciences. Nature 569: S5-S5. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01437-7 |
[73] | Biomedical Robotics, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. Available from: https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/areas/biomedical-robotics |
[74] | DelveInsight, DelveInsight Business Research, Robots In Healthcare, Benefit, Disadvantages and Future of Medical Robot (2021). Available from: https://www.delveinsight.com/blog/robotics-in-healthcare |
[75] | Denecke K, Baudoin CR (2022) A review of artificial intelligence and robotics in transformed health ecosystems. Front Med 9: 795957. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.795957 |
[76] | Huo Y (2022) Benefits of robotics technology in health care. Int J Swarm Intell Evol Comput 11: 1-2. https://doi.org/10.35248/2090-4908.22.11.252 |
[77] | Wee IJY, Kuo LJ, Ngu JCY (2020) A systematic review of the true benefit of robotic surgery: ergonomics. Int J Med Robot Comput Assist Surg 16: e2113. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.2113 |
[78] | Davenport T, Kalakota R (2019) The potential for artificial intelligence in healthcare. Future Healthc J 6: 94-98. https://doi.org/10.7861/futurehosp.6-2-94 |
[79] | Farhud DD, Zokaei S (2021) Ethical issues of artificial intelligence in medicine and healthcare. Iran J Public Health 50: i-v. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v50i11.7600 |
[80] | Soares A, Piçarra N, Giger JC, et al. (2023) Ethics 4.0: Ethical dilemmas in healthcare mediated by social robots. Int J Soc Robot 15: 807-823. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-023-00983-5 |
[81] | Tukur M, Saad G, AlShagathrh FM, et al. (2023) Telehealth interventions during COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review of applications, challenges, privacy and security issues. BMJ Health Care Inform 30: e100676. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjhci-2022-100676 |
[82] | Haleem A, Javaid M, Singh RP, et al. (2021) Telemedicine for healthcare: capabilities, features, barriers, and applications. Sens Int 2: 100117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sintl.2021.100117 |
[83] | Padhy SK, Takkar B, Chawla R, et al. (2019) Artificial intelligence in diabetic retinopathy: A natural step to the future. Indian J Ophthalmol 67: 1004-1009. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.IJO_1989_18 |
[84] | Ahuja AS (2019) The impact of artificial intelligence in medicine on the future role of the physician. PeerJ 7: e7702. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7702 |
[85] | Cepolina F, Razzoli RP (2022) An introductory review of robotically assisted surgical systems. Int J Med Robot 18: e2409. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.2409 |
[86] | Liao Y, Thompson C, Peterson S, et al. (2019) The future of wearable technologies and remote monitoring in health care. ASCO Educational Book 39: 115-121. https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_238919 |