Bloodbot draws blood, inspires fear
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted September 16th 2009 2:06PM
posted September 16th 2009 2:06PM
We've seen our fair share of scary robots in these parts, and we're not going to mince words here: there is no way we are going anywhere near one that's armed with a hypodermic needle -- and we sure as hell aren't going to sit still and let it draw blood! Currently being developed by a team at Imperial College in London, the Bloodbot is designed to probe your arm for the presence of a vein, stick you with the needle, puncture the vein, and then stop short of rupture. The system, which has thus far only been tested on one patient (sounds like we're not the only ones with reservations regarding the device) has been accurate about 78 percent of the time, meaning it only resulted in screaming fits 22 percent of the time -- unlike your friendly neighborhood nurse or medical technician, who is accurate nearly 100 percent of the time (and still inspires the occasional fit, but that's another story).
[Via Switched]
[Via Switched]
there are a lot of nurses out there who can't get a vein the first time
hell I have very visible veins and even I've had them screw up
5-10 years from now you all will be glad to have a bot take your blood, suture your lacerations, operate on your heart (okay maybe 15).
This is typical of new technology! First It freaks you out "No $*&^'n way!", then you say "no I don't thing so!" then "only if no one else can do it" the "okay, sure why not" then "a human? hell no! where's the blood bot?"
VB
As a lab assistant/phlebotomist, this is both an interesting and terrifying idea. Over the course of one day at work, I can collect blood samples from over 40 patients (good day) or 60 (bad day).
I find Bloodbot interesting because it might actually be a helpful, useful tool for lab workers - perhaps it could be used on easy-to-collect patients...
On the other hand, I find it terrifying because I too hate being on the other side of the needle (you know... the person GETTING jabbed) and I cannot possibly imagine myself sitting in a chair, strapped into Bloodbot's arm-clamp-thing without being scared stupid that it might poke an artery or tendon. The antecubital fossa (inner elbow crease area) is a highly sensitive area, filled with numerous veins, tendons, nerves and arteries. Two millimeters off the mark of a certain vein? It might get you in the primary nerve that controls the movement of most of your hand and you really aren't interested in damaging that nerve.
Also, I can't tell you how many patients I collect in one day who have veins that roll, collapse or otherwise do not cooperate. Bloodbot probably hasn't been tested under such circumstances, which worries me. Besides, if a human has to insert/remove the probe, needle and collection tubes, it doesn't save any time in comparison to the whole collection process being performed by a human.
If you're anything like me when you're having your blood collected, you want to look up to the person holding the needle and feel confident that they'll get the job done right the first time. When's the last time you looked into the steel frame of a robot and felt confident that it wouldn't tear you to pieces?
I didn't read all the comments.
But I hope, hope, hope that I am the first to coin the phrase "robotomy phlebotomy"!
F$@% that
Clearly this is just a prototype. The finished version will be much smaller, much more friendly and much more accurate. The needle could easily be totally hidden from sight, a significant bonus for those with a needle phobia. There is no doubt in my mind that something like this will take over from nurses/phlebotomists in almost all circumstances. To those who need their blood taken weekly, daily or more often, this will be a godsend. I've been wondering for a while why nobody had made one,
That said, as a psychologist, I quite enjoy taking people's blood, and being good at it. There is a lot of satisfaction in doing it right... the flip-side being those few times when it goes badly... that's not fun from the blood taker or giver.
Wanted: one (1) alternate universe in which this doesn't exist, and cheap method of traveling there. Destruction of method of travel after I depart is preferable.
I'm fine with my flesh and blood human doctor, thank you. Some jobs aren't meant for robots.
This thing looks like a torture device from SAW! Ain't no way in hell I'm putting my arm in that thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p-Hu3FkAGU
"I am the imperial bloodbot, resistance is futile."
I wonder who did the voice for it, they did think of giving it a voice right?
in my personal opinion in this case i rather let a real person do the job instead of a robot, what if something goes wrong? it could easily destroy your vein and they'll need to replace the entire system of the part they're taking the blood out with a plastic ones since they all are connected. i rather put my health in a real person with real experience and specially REAL LIFE!
You have got to be joking...
I hate it enough when a trained doctor does it... fuck no
If you want to see Bloodbot in the 'flesh' it's on display right now at the Hunterian Museum, London - until 23 Dec 09.
It's part of a free exhibition on medical and surgical robots and there's some weird and wonderful stuff like mini-bots that will crawl and swim around inside you!
There's even a section on medical robots in sci-fi in case you think the rest of the exhibition is a bit 'sensible' ;)
check it out: http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums/exhibitions/sci-fi-surgery
Did some demented hermit in a dark, reclusive cave design this monstrosity and actually consider it a 'good idea'?
Are they working on designs for a robotic dentist's drill as well?