Advancements in surgical procedures have been steadily evolving over the centuries, with innovative methods and tools continually improving the field of healthcare. One significant advancement that has revolutionized surgery since the 1980s is the use of robotics. Assistant Professor Zhenhua Tian and his team have taken a leap forward in this field by combining robotics with noninvasive acoustics, which has been published in Science Advances.
Robot-assisted surgery has become increasingly popular due to its ability to minimize invasiveness. While traditional surgeries involve larger incisions, robotic-assisted tools allow for smaller cuts, resulting in less discomfort and bleeding for patients. Additionally, patients who undergo robotic-assisted surgeries tend to spend less time in the hospital and have faster recovery periods. The use of robots in surgeries has grown significantly, with 15.1 percent of surgeries in 2018 involving robots, compared to 1.8 percent in 2012.
Tian’s team has developed a novel method of moving small targets, such as cells and medicine, within the body in a noninvasive manner. By using acoustic energy emitters to create 3D acoustic vortex fields, the team can manipulate and move tiny particles within the body without the need for incisions. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize medicine by allowing for the movement of cells and drugs inside veins without breaking the skin.
The development of acoustic vortex emitters mounted on robotic platforms enables precise movement of particles within a 3D space, making it a critical advancement in surgical procedures. This technology allows for the manipulation of tiny objects along winding paths of blood vessels, opening up new possibilities in the medical field. Additionally, the ability to move particles in both gases and liquids has applications beyond medicine, including engineering, biology, and chemistry research.
The integration of acoustic energy emitters with robotics has the potential to impact various fields beyond surgery, such as controlling microrobots, handling delicate bioparticles, transporting hazardous reagent droplets, and arranging nanomaterials for composite fabrication. This contactless, robotic manipulation technology has broad applications across different industries, offering new opportunities for research and development. Tian’s team aims to further explore these applications and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with their innovative approach.
Overall, the combination of robotics and noninvasive acoustics represents a significant advancement in the field of surgery, offering new opportunities for precise manipulation of small targets within the body. By harnessing the power of acoustic energy emitters and robotic platforms, Tian and his team are paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in medicine and beyond. Their research has the potential to revolutionize the way surgeries are performed and open up new possibilities for manipulation of particles in various substances, leading to advancements in a wide range of industries.
