The robot “Star” is a surgeon who performs an operation alone.. The machine proves that it can perform precise operations

A robot has performed a laparoscopy without assistance for the first time, according to a study in the field of robotic operations, published by the "Science Robotics" magazine.

The patients were 4 pigs who underwent a procedure normally used to treat human bowel cancer, in which part of the small intestine is removed.

The robot, called Star, was responsible for sewing the two loose ends in the intestines.

The task requires about 20 stitches, spaced 3 millimeters apart.

Consistency is the key

A misplaced stitch can cause leakage and serious complications.

The task becomes even more challenging in laparoscopic surgery as the instruments are inserted through small incisions - in this case between 1 and 3 centimeters long - in the patient's abdomen, leaving little room for maneuverability and vision.

It is said that the superiority of the robot in the process is due to the presence of an artificial intelligence system that helped it synchronize its movements with the rise and fall of the pig’s breathing, while the developed camera system acted as an organized optical endoscope and provided the robot with images of the depth of the wound.

A doctor marked the intestines with infrared light dots captured by a second camera, which allowed the robot to build a virtual 3D model of the tissue's surface.

The end result was a neat row of stitches, evenly spaced, that prevented leakage more than those made by human specialists.

 Microsurgical automation

The researchers believe the operation is a step toward introducing robots to some aspects of surgery that require precise and repetitive motions.

"Our findings show that we can automate one of the most complex and sensitive tasks," said Dr. Axel Krieger of Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering who led the study.

It is believed that the robot could be ready to operate on humans within 5 years, and is currently undergoing training to remove tumors.

The study shows that the robot can target cancer cells just like human surgeons.

Endoscopic surgery involving robots is widely used, and indeed has been shown to shorten recovery times.

But nowadays surgeons control these machines, like the da Vinci robot.

The "Star" robot takes a step forward in this field, by moving independently of surgeons.

Dr. Krieger hopes these studies will achieve more consistent results beyond the skills and experience of surgeons.