Robotics in Medical Application (NJK)

Robotics in Medical Application 

Robotics is reshaping modern medicine by enhancing precision, safety, and efficiency in everything from surgery to rehabilitation and hospital logistics. For mechanical engineering students, medical robotics is an excellent example of mechatronics, control systems, and human–machine interaction in a highly regulated real-world environment.

What are medical robots?

Medical robots are electromechanical systems designed to assist healthcare professionals in diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and hospital support tasks. They combine mechanical structures, actuators, sensors, and control algorithms—often with AI—to perform tasks that require high precision, repeatability, or operation in risky environments.​

Main categories include:

• Surgical robots (e.g., minimally invasive systems).

• Rehabilitation and assistive robots (exoskeletons, therapy devices).

• Service and logistics robots in hospitals (delivery, disinfection, telepresence).

• Diagnostic and imaging robots (positioning and guidance systems).​

Surgical robotics

Surgical robots assist surgeons in performing minimally invasive procedures through small incisions with improved dexterity and visualization. Systems such as multi‑arm robotic platforms provide 3D magnified views and wristed instruments with more degrees of freedom than the human hand, allowing finer motion scaling and tremor filtering.​

Advantages:

• Smaller incisions, less blood loss, and reduced tissue trauma.

• Shorter hospital stays and faster patient recovery compared with many conventional open surgeries.​

• More consistent precision due to motion scaling and stable robotic arms.​

Mechanical engineering roles involve:

• Designing robotic arms and joints with high stiffness and low backlash.

• Mechanisms for instrument articulation, cable or linkage transmissions, and quick-change tool interfaces.

• Ergonomics and safety features, such as mechanical limits and fail‑safe brakes.​

Rehabilitation and assistive robots

Rehabilitation robots support patients recovering from stroke, spinal cord injury, or orthopedic surgery by guiding repetitive, task‑specific movements. Examples include lower‑limb exoskeletons for gait training and robotic arms for upper‑limb therapy that can adjust assistance levels based on patient effort.​

Key benefits:

• High‑repetition, consistent therapy sessions that would be difficult for humans to deliver continuously.

• Objective measurement of movement, force, and progress over time for clinical decision‑making.​

Mechanical design aspects:

• Lightweight yet strong frames and joints that align with human anatomy.

• Comfortable and adjustable interfaces (straps, cuffs, orthoses) that avoid pressure sores.

• Actuation and transmission systems that can smoothly switch between assistive, resistive, and passive modes.​

Service, logistics, and disinfection robots

Service robots handle routine, time‑consuming, or hazardous tasks in hospitals, freeing staff for direct patient care. Typical applications include:​

• Autonomous mobile robots delivering medicines, samples, meals, linens, and supplies between wards, pharmacies, and labs.​

• UV‑ or chemical‑based disinfection robots that sanitize rooms, ICUs, and operating theatres to reduce hospital‑acquired infections.​

• Telepresence robots that let specialists remotely examine patients and coordinate with on‑site staff.​

From a mechanical point of view, these robots require:

• Robust mobile bases (differential or omnidirectional drive) designed for hospital corridors, elevators, and ramps.

• Safe, rounded housings with bumpers and compliance to avoid injury on contact.

• Mechanisms for docking, lifting, and handling trolleys or payload modules.​

Diagnostic and imaging robots

Robots are also used to position patients or instruments precisely during imaging or minimally invasive procedures. Examples include robotic systems that:​

• Guide biopsy needles, catheters, or radiation beams to targets identified in CT/MRI images.

• Align and move patients during radiotherapy or high‑precision imaging, reducing setup errors.​

Mechanical engineering contributions:

• High‑precision positioning stages with sub‑millimeter accuracy and repeatability.

• Radiolucent (non‑metallic) structures where necessary to avoid image artifacts.

• Integration of encoders and sensors for closed‑loop control and safety interlocks.​

Benefits, challenges, and opportunities for mechanical engineers

Robotics in medicine improves patient outcomes, reduces staff workload, and enhances consistency in complex procedures. However, it faces challenges such as high upfront cost, strict regulatory requirements, cybersecurity and safety standards, and the need for specialized training of medical teams.​

For mechanical engineering students, this field offers opportunities in:

• Mechatronic design of arms, joints, and end‑effectors.

• Human–robot interaction design for safe, intuitive use by clinicians.

• Biomechanics, ergonomics, and device reliability in demanding clinical environments.​

Focused study in robotics, control systems, medical device standards, and CAD/FEA/controls tools can prepare students to work on the next generation of surgical, rehabilitation, and service robots in healthcare.