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Home » Could artificial intelligence boost surgical robotics to new heights?

Could artificial intelligence boost surgical robotics to new heights?

February 19, 2021 By Chris Newmarker

Ken Goldberg surgical robotics artificial intelligence peg transfer
Goldberg and his team trained a da Vinci surgical robot to automatically perform peg transfer slightly faster and more accurately than an experienced surgical resident. [Image courtesy of the Autolab at UC Berkeley]
Ken Goldberg thinks artificial intelligence will enable surgical robots to achieve their best function — not replacing surgeons but augmenting their work by reducing the monotony of specific subtasks like suturing.

The William S. Floyd Jr. Distinguished Chair in Engineering at UC Berkeley, Goldberg and his research team have continued to advance the field.

The group — which includes postdoctoral researchers Minho Hwang and Jeffrey Ichnowski and PhD student Brijen Thananjeyan — has demonstrated how a deep neural network plus 3D-printed depth-sensing markers can train a da Vinci surgical robot to automatically perform peg transfer slightly faster and more accurately than an experienced surgical resident.

They also published a paper in Science Robotics last November about new AI software that allows robots to learn how to rapidly plan smooth motions that increase speed and reduce wear in factories, warehouses…and operating rooms.

Their work encompasses so much more, too. (Here’s a list of published research.)

Goldberg recently consulted with his research team to provide some insights to Medical Design & Outsourcing and MassDevice about where the surgical robotics space could advance in coming years.

Go to our sister site MDO for the full story. 

Filed Under: Featured, Health Technology, Software / IT, Surgical, Surgical Robotics Tagged With: Intuitive Surgical, Ken Goldberg, robot-assisted, Robotic Surgery, TransEnterix, UC Berkeley

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About Chris Newmarker

Chris Newmarker is the executive editor of WTWH Media life science's news websites and publications including MassDevice, Medical Design & Outsourcing and more. A professional journalist of 18 years, he is a veteran of UBM (now Informa) and The Associated Press whose career has taken him from Ohio to Virginia, New Jersey and, most recently, Minnesota. He’s covered a wide variety of subjects, but his focus over the past decade has been business and technology. He holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from Ohio State University. Connect with him on LinkedIn or email at [email protected].

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