ROBO DOC
A MINIATURE robot surgeon has been given a spot onboard a rocket headed to the International Space Station and funding for further development by Nasa.
The two-pound prototype bot has the potential to become space travelers' premier robot-assisted surgery tool.
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The "miniature in vivo robotic assistant", better known by its acronym MIRA, will be flown to space for testing in 2024.
While in zero-gravity, MIRA will be tested on simulated surgical processes.
It will cut rubber bands and move rings through a wire to simulate intricate moves that future models might do to treat a real astronaut.
“Nasa has been a long-term supporter of this research and, as a culmination of that effort, our robot will have a chance to fly on the International Space Station,” said Shane Farritor, professor of engineering at UNL and one of the lead architects of MIRA.
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MIRA has earned the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) a grant of $100,000 from Nasa to continue writing software and fitting the robot for the stresses of launch and space flight.
The bot's two hands can be controlled by an operator or act autonomously.
A remote handler controlled the cutting and gripping tools from 900 miles away in an experiment.
But in space, astronauts could be hundreds of thousands or even millions of miles from Earthbound surgeons.
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A press release from UNL says autonomous mode will "conserve space station communications bandwidth" and shorten the run time.
“As people go further and deeper into space, they might need to do surgery someday,” Farrior said.
“We’re working toward that goal.”
The bot's official website shows the MIRA could also one day improve hospitals here on Earth by streamlining the set up process and reducing turnover time.
The hardware, which includes a surgeon console and companion cart, takes just over six minutes to set up.
A video from UNL promoting the MIRA says the device could also be used in warfront scenarios.
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Farritor is a co-founder of Virtual Incision, where he serves as chief technology officer.
Cosmos Magazine reported that the company has been developing the MIRA surgical robot since 2006.