In a groundbreaking development, a surgical robot was successfully controlled by surgeons on Earth to perform simulated surgical activities in outer space. The small surgical robot, named Mira and developed by Virtual Incision, arrived at the International Space Station in February aboard a SpaceX rocket. This momentous achievement marks the first time that a surgical robot in space has been operated remotely by surgeons on Earth.
Virtual Incision, the company responsible for Mira, provided exclusive video footage of the event, which took place on Saturday. Six surgeons located at the company's headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska took turns navigating and operating the robot while it was powered up by NASA astronauts, who were orbiting approximately 250 miles above Earth. The surgeons experienced a mix of exhilaration and nerves as they controlled Mira from such a great distance.
Dr. Michael Jobst, one of the surgeons involved in the project, expressed his excitement at the opportunity to operate the robot in space. Having already performed 15 surgeries with Mira during clinical trials on Earth, Dr. Jobst recognized the additional challenges presented by zero gravity and a slight time delay of about half a second. Despite these obstacles, Dr. Jobst and his colleagues successfully manipulated the robot's surgical instruments to perform simulated surgical tasks using rubber bands to mimic tissue.
The potential applications of this technology extend beyond space. Apart from the long-term goal of conducting remote surgeries on astronauts in space, the researchers also aim to utilize this technology in hard-to-reach areas on Earth, such as remote rural regions or even war zones. By enabling surgeons to operate remotely, this development could bridge the gap in accessing surgical care in locations where medical professionals may be scarce.
The successful remote operation of Mira in space opens up new possibilities for medical interventions in remote and challenging environments. Additional research and testing will be necessary before remote surgeries become a reality, but this historic achievement represents a significant step forward in the field of surgical robotics.
The video footage released by Virtual Incision showcases the precision and capability of Mira under the skilled control of the Earth-based surgeons. As the surgical robot continues to evolve, the possibilities for using this technology to save lives and improve healthcare outcomes in both space and on Earth seem increasingly promising.
