Sony's ultra-precise microsurgery robot can sew a grain of corn.
Sony showcased an ultra-precise microsurgery robot capable of creating a small incision and sewing it back up on a grain of corn. The robot can also automatically switch between different tools.
Microsurgery refers to surgical procedures performed on very small human tissues using surgical microscopes and other tools. These operations require a high level of skill and can only be performed by a limited number of doctors and facilities. Sony unveiled a surgical assist robot to make this advanced surgery more accessible for both those administering treatment and those in need of treatment.
A robot for surgeons from Sony
The robotic system
The robotic system primarily consists of a desktop console operated by the surgeon and a robot performing procedures on the patient. The movements of the surgeon’s hands on the console are replicated by the robot, but with much greater precision. According to Sony, this motion scaling technique allows surgeons to perform highly precise operations beyond the limitations of their physical capabilities.
Sony also states that its robot, which can automatically switch between different tools, is the first of its kind and has been successfully tested in veterinary surgery. Sony emphasizes that its robot is designed to assist surgeons in the field of supermicrosurgery, focusing on extremely small blood vessels and nerves with diameters well below 1 mm. In these types of surgical operations, incredible precision and steady hands are required. Experts in this field typically perform their work while looking through a microscope.
AI-powered robots
On the other hand, robots assisting doctors in the medical field have been around for some time. These are not entirely autonomous AI-powered robots. They are merely teleoperation tools that reduce the movements of surgeons while allowing them to magnify their views, opening up new possibilities in surgeries.
Sony’s prototype robot is equipped with 4K Micro OLED screens and a stereoscopic 4K 3D camera system. This system provides real-time imagery to the surgeon. Sony is also testing this robot with doctors. Dr. Hisako Hara and Dr. Makoto Mihara, at least as stated in Sony’s press release, seem to be quite impressed with the robot. The doctors emphasize that the robot behaves extremely harmoniously and naturally with their movements.
