Collaborative robot acting as scrub nurse for cataract surgery (CRASCS)

Area of Science:

• Robotics in Healthcare
• Surgical Assistance Systems
• Medical Technology Innovation

Background:

• Global healthcare systems face a critical nursing shortage, projected to cause significant workforce deficits.
• The current nurse-to-patient ratio in India falls considerably below the World Health Organization's recommendations.
• Existing nursing shortages impact healthcare delivery and patient outcomes worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a collaborative robotic system to mitigate the shortage of surgical nurses.
• To develop a robotic scrub nurse assistant for cataract surgery.
• To enhance surgical procedure efficiency and support clinicians through automation.

Main Methods:

• A 5-degree of freedom robotic arm was customized and 3D printed.
• Real-time surgical phase tracking was implemented to predict equipment needs.
• A secondary model was developed for surgical equipment localization within the robot's range.
• Voice command integration was incorporated for intuitive equipment retrieval.

Main Results:

• The system successfully assists with surgical procedures by acting as a scrub nurse.
• It accurately tracks surgical phases and supplies the correct equipment in real-time.
• The robotic system demonstrates the potential to alleviate the shortage of surgical nurses.

Conclusions:

• The developed collaborative robotic system offers a viable solution to the global surgical nurse shortage.
• This technology can enhance surgical workflow efficiency and provide crucial support to healthcare professionals.
• The innovation has the potential to significantly benefit global healthcare by addressing critical workforce gaps.