A small surgical robot aboard the International Space Station was tested in orbit for the first time, performing a simulated surgery in space while being remotely controlled by a surgeon on Earth.
The robot, named spaceMIRA (short for Miniaturized In Vivo Robotic Assistant), was developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The experiment was conducted on the space station on Saturday using simulated tissue. As first reported by CNN.
This technology could be crucial for dealing with medical emergencies that may occur during long-duration spaceflights, such as future missions to Mars and beyond. But the robot’s inventors say it could also have applications on Earth, such as in rural areas, military battlefields, or other remote areas where adequate medical resources are lacking.
“While space travel is exciting to think about, there is also a pressing need to help patients get the care they need here on Earth,” said Shane Faritor, professor of engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. stated in a statement Immediately after the robot is launched to the International Space Station.
Fariter is co-founder and chief technology officer of Virtual Incision, a startup aimed at bringing small surgical robots to the commercial market.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
