- The new equipment has a tiny size and weighs about one kilogram.
- It is not yet for sale, but tests have shown that it can be manipulated remotely by trained personnel to perform interventions such as abdominal surgery in a minimally invasive way.
- The MINA surgeon robot will be tested on astronauts during a space mission in 2024.
One of the greatest fascinations of man is to know what is beyond the sky. Since ancient civilizations, visual reviews of the stars have been constant. While in the modern era it has already been possible to reach the Moon and send ships to Mars. But now it is planned to take another step with MIRA, which will become the first surgeon robot to reach space.
All part of prevention and a key question: What would happen if an astronaut fractured during a mission and required immediate medical attention? In the case of minor care there are not too many complications because each one receives arduous training for months.
The problem is if the injury is so severe that surgery is needed. In this type of case, time is of the essence and months cannot be expected until the astronaut returns to Earth to be taken to a hospital. What is needed is to offer the service instantly.
The latest in medical technology
This is where it makes its appearance MIRA, a new robotic surgeon of minimal size that was created to be controlled remotely. This invention was created by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has already been successfully tested in several trials.
Until now it represents the most advanced generation in medical technology. It can be remotely manipulated by trained personnel to carry out interventions such as minimally invasive abdominal surgery.
For its part, the company Virtual Incision Corporation has the patent for this new equipment. It is a medical device company that pioneered the first miniaturized platform for robot assisted surgery (RAS) of the world.
Via a statement announced that his Surgeon robot MIRA will test its skills in space in a technology demonstration in 2024 during a mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Everything materialized thanks to an alliance with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (POT).
“The MIRA was designed to deliver the power of a mainframe robotic-assisted surgery device in a miniaturized size. His goal is to make RAS accessible in any operating room on the planet. Working with NASA aboard the space station will prove how MIRA can make surgery accessible even in the most remote locations.”
Although not yet available for sale, this device is currently in the final stages of its clinical trial in the United States with an investigational device exemption to support the market authorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Weight and dimensions of the robot surgeon
It weighs about one kilogram and its small size makes it attractive to surgeons and hospital staff. It also makes it ideal for use in the tight space and massive requirements of a long-duration space mission. Once on board, MIRA will operate inside a microwave oven-sized experiment locker and perform activities that simulate those used in surgery, such as cutting simulated tissue and manipulating small objects.
“NASA has ambitious plans for long-duration space travel and it is important to test the capabilities of the technology that can be beneficial during missions measured in months and years.”
Based on the above, if an astronaut is on his mission in space and suffers from a fracture that requires immediate intervention, with the support of the MIRA surgeon robot, he can receive it instantly. Although the specialists are on Earth, they will be able to operate the equipment remotely without problems.