Medical Robots

Diverse Applications for Improving the Quality of Healthcare

Medical robots are a type of professional service robot used in and out of hospital settings to improve the overall level of patient care. They ease the workload of medical staff, allowing them to spend more time caring directly for patients, while creating major operational efficiencies and cost reductions for healthcare facilities.

According to the International Federation of Robotics World Robotics 2018 Service Robots report, medical robot sales increased 73% in 2017 over 2016, accounting for 2.7% of all professional service robot sales. Moving forward, 2018 sales are projected at 4,360 unites, a 49% increase from 2017, and roughly 22,100 units are estimated to be sold between 2019 and 2021.

The diverse applications of medical robots today include telepresence robots for remote caregiving, disinfectant robots to reduce hospital acquired infections, robots that can more accurately and efficiently draw blood, and robotic exoskeletons that provide external support and muscle training for rehabilitation. Mobile medical robots are also being used for delivery of medication and other sensitive materials in a hospital setting.

Other unique uses include diagnostic chat bots that diagnose patients via text message, leveraging technology driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence software. Haptic assistive (i.e.: touch-sensitive) technology combined with robotics can provide therapy for children with disabilities or help with telerehabilitation.

Medical robots are diverse in their form and function but all serve to improve the quality and accuracy of healthcare delivery. The market is projected to undergo strong growth as new medical processes find effective automation solutions and healthcare facilities justify the investment in medical robots.