The medical industry is currently facing major obstacles affecting patient care and operational efficiency. One of the biggest concerns is the occurrence of medical errors, which can have serious consequences for patient safety. This emphasises the importance of precision and accuracy in diagnosing and treating patients. Furthermore, a global shortage of medical personnel puts a strain on already overburdened healthcare systems and makes it difficult to provide timely and effective care to patients. Inefficient operations within hospitals only add to these challenges.
The future of medicine is vision-enabled robotics. This technology is set to transform healthcare by tackling key challenges head-on. With unmatched precision, the ability to assist in complex surgeries, and the potential to streamline hospital operations, vision-enabled robots are not just a glimpse into the future – they are already here, revolutionising the medical field and paving the way for safer, more efficient, and more accessible healthcare for everyone.
Here are some of the key types of vision-enabled medical robots:
Surgical robots
Surgical robots are at the forefront of advanced medical technology. They aid surgeons in performing intricate procedures with greater accuracy, versatility, and command. These robots include two or more cameras, and finely engineered robotic arms. The surgeon operates the arms while seated at a nearby computer console, utilising a high-definition 3D image of the surgical site.
Medical carts
Medical carts, sometimes known as pharmacy robots, are essential tools in large hospitals and pharmacies. They automate the storage, dispensing, returning, and restocking of medications, reducing errors that can occur with manual handling. These robots improve operational efficiency and patient safety by ensuring accurate medication dispensing. They also free up pharmacists and medical staff to focus on providing quality patient care rather than managing medication logistics.
Telepresence robots
Telepresence robots facilitate remote communication between patients and healthcare providers. They are equipped with a camera, screen and speakers, enabling live, interactive communication. By navigating hospital corridors and rooms, these robots allow doctors to virtually “visit” patients without being physically present. They are extremely useful in rural or underserved areas where access to medical professionals is limited and they improve access to care and timely medical advice.
Disinfection robots
Disinfection robots have become an important tool in maintaining sterile environments in healthcare settings, especially considering global health crises. Using UV light and disinfecting vapours such as hydrogen peroxide, these robots autonomously clean and sterilise rooms, equipment, and surfaces, effectively eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms. These robots reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections and ensure a safer environment for patients and healthcare workers.
Rehabilitation robots
Rehabilitation and companion robots are specialised machines created to aid in the rehabilitation process of individuals, particularly those who are dealing with old age, trauma, or chronic illnesses. These robots can perform various tasks, such as providing support for mobility, physical and cognitive therapy, and even offering companionship. Examples include robots that assist stroke patients in regaining arm and hand function, “exoskeleton” robots that assist patients with spinal cord injuries, and social robots that engage with elderly patients to combat feelings of loneliness while promoting participation in therapeutic activities.
Camera modules help medical robots with the following functions:
Obstacle detection and autonomous navigation
Colour recognition
Optical Character Recognition
Barcode reading
TechNexion and Inelo Hunter: Embedded solutions for vision-enabled medical systems
Medical robotic systems require high-performance embedded processors to handle the required high-throughput processing workloads. Depending on the type of medical robot, the embedded processor may need to simultaneously process video from several cameras, capture data from other sensors, perform analysis using AI, and use that information to make motor control decisions. For example, to move the robot drive wheels, or to change the orientation of a manipulator arm.
There are many different types of robotic applications, each requiring different levels of processing and I/O. TechNexion partner Inelco Hunter supplies a variety of processor modules to meet different application requirements.
For example, in some rehabilitation robotic applications requiring one or two cameras, the AXON-IMX8M-PLUS module is a small, cost-effective solution with up to 2.3 TOPS of edge AI processing, super-speed USB support for working with depth cameras, and PCIe support working with 5G modems, high-density mass storage NVME modules.
In other cases, much more processing capability is needed. For this, the TechNexion ROVY-4VM, a TI-TDA4VM-based solution from Inelco Hunter, is a ready-to-use edge AI computing module that is specially designed for next-generation robots.
Inelco Hunter provides in-depth engineering support to ensure rapid implementation, speeding up the customer’s time-to-market. This added-value support is at the core of Inelco Hunter’s philosophy and has been for over 30 years.