Sensei robotic arm pulling off heart operations in the UK

Although the Sensei robot at St. Mary's Hospital in London may just be "one of four in the world," it certainly joins a packed crowd of mechanical colleagues that have been doing this whole "operation" bit for quite some time. As with most similar alternatives, this one operates (quite literally, actually) by responding to a human surgeon's input given via joystick, and the arm is then able to maneuver into more delicate and hard-to-reach locales in order to execute catheter ablation procedures. In the future, however, the Atari-lovin' doctor could be left out of the process entirely, as an automated edition could eventually be programmed to find its own way to the target without any human intervention. Med school graduates losing residency positions to metallic counterparts -- what is the world coming to?

[icepop4who @ Jul 22nd 2007 9:49PM]

They say gamers make better surgeons. Heck, why not make them all gamers!

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 22nd 2007 10:48PM]

All work and no play makes Dr. Jack a dull boy!

[robert.stewart2 @ Jul 22nd 2007 9:49PM]

as long as its running on anything other than windows millenium edition i will be ok with it...

[saq @ Jul 22nd 2007 10:45PM]

Maybe this is one way to bring health care prices into check? By replacing costly doctors with one-time cost machines who are better and don't complain.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 22nd 2007 10:51PM]

Lowed medical costs? That's a good one! You're a great comedian!

[Phoenixfury @ Jul 22nd 2007 10:57PM]

For some reason the title of this article totally reminded me of the sensei of the Cobra Kai.. However unlike this article's robotic sensei, the Cobra Kai sensei is more likely to rip out your heart because "mercy is for the weak!"

[aeo @ Jul 23rd 2007 12:16AM]

Oh jeez.. I thought the title said "Sensei robotic arm pulling OUT hearts". And I was thinking, "Engadget was right all along... it's begun".

[fischju @ Jul 23rd 2007 12:17AM]

That's never going to happen (the doctor replacing thing)

People already don't trust the surgeons, no way they want to be left in the hands of a machine without hands.....

[BananaBoat @ Jul 23rd 2007 12:54AM]

I can't believe it! The novint falcon! Being used for actual freaking surgery! Could this possibly not be a shop?

[OC @ Jul 23rd 2007 1:57AM]

Wow, way to go with the doctor bashing. I particularly enjoyed "replacing costly doctors with one-time cost machines who are better and don't complain." Mate, I think you've been watching too much poor quality TV. Or maybe Nip/Tuck - which is not a documentary.

What makes you think these machines would be upkeep-free? Like all surgical tools the workings parts would need fastidious maintenance and sterilising between cases - which would definitely not be as simple (or cheap) as just chucking a scalpel handle in the autoclave.

Trained surgeons can do more than one operation and a human can respond to unforseen circumstances with the advantage of specialist knowledge, experience and innovation where required.

Finally, the majority of doctors' complaints involve advocating on behalf of patients to government health departments, with the ultimate aim of achieving better (or even acceptable) care for patients. Sure, they also bargain for their own employment conditions - like any other profession. That's what happens when you treat health care like a commodity.

Surgical robots are becoming more widespread and early evidence certainly suggests that they have the potential to improve outcomes for patients (which is the ultimate goal). But they'll only ever be a tool for trained surgeons to use, and they'll never replace a human operator.

That said, just in case any have become self-aware, I for one salute our surgical-grade steel overlords.