Imagine a world in which it’s 1 casual for a doctor
to prepare for a difficult surgery by “operating” on a full-
sized, electronically responsive model of a patient. It may
seem fantastical, but one engineer is working to make this
scenario possible. Dr. Toshio Fukuda is a pioneer in the
field of medical robotics. In designing his medical robotic
equipment, Dr. Fukuda draws upon a variety of disciplines
and skill sets. His work serves as an example of how
collaboration across a variety of fields can drive innovation.
[1] Dr. Fukuda’s career is a case study in how the
interaction of vastly different fields can produce exciting
results. [2] He did not begin his career with the goal of
developing medical robotics. [3] Rather, Dr. Fukuda earned
his Ph.D. in mechanical 2 engineering—not medicine;
and his early work focused on finding new ways for robots
to move. [4] Together, they designed a micro-robot that
could be used for clearing blocked arteries and performing
other delicate operations. [5] Shortly thereafter, Dr. Fukuda
was approached by a doctor who asked if he could build a
robot that could travel inside a human’s blood vessels. 3
Today, Dr. Fukuda has moved from the world of the
micro-robot to 4 the macro-robot. He is busy developing
full-sized medical models of patients scheduled to undergo
complex surgical procedures. These types of surgeries
are rarely performed by a single doctor. Rather, a team of
specialists works together in close coordination to complete
an operation. Dr. Fukuda’s robots help these teams to train
for surgery by giving them the opportunity to rehearse an
entire surgical procedure on a full-scale robotic replica of
the patient.
Working together, 5 innovators in robotics and
medicine share their expertise to save lives. According
to Fukuda, “medical robotics is a very interdisciplinary
area.” It draws upon the expertise of surgeons, medical
researchers, robotics engineers, and even computer
programmers.
to prepare for a difficult surgery by “operating” on a full-
sized, electronically responsive model of a patient. It may
seem fantastical, but one engineer is working to make this
scenario possible. Dr. Toshio Fukuda is a pioneer in the
field of medical robotics. In designing his medical robotic
equipment, Dr. Fukuda draws upon a variety of disciplines
and skill sets. His work serves as an example of how
collaboration across a variety of fields can drive innovation.
[1] Dr. Fukuda’s career is a case study in how the
interaction of vastly different fields can produce exciting
results. [2] He did not begin his career with the goal of
developing medical robotics. [3] Rather, Dr. Fukuda earned
his Ph.D. in mechanical 2 engineering—not medicine;
and his early work focused on finding new ways for robots
to move. [4] Together, they designed a micro-robot that
could be used for clearing blocked arteries and performing
other delicate operations. [5] Shortly thereafter, Dr. Fukuda
was approached by a doctor who asked if he could build a
robot that could travel inside a human’s blood vessels. 3
Today, Dr. Fukuda has moved from the world of the
micro-robot to 4 the macro-robot. He is busy developing
full-sized medical models of patients scheduled to undergo
complex surgical procedures. These types of surgeries
are rarely performed by a single doctor. Rather, a team of
specialists works together in close coordination to complete
an operation. Dr. Fukuda’s robots help these teams to train
for surgery by giving them the opportunity to rehearse an
entire surgical procedure on a full-scale robotic replica of
the patient.
Working together, 5 innovators in robotics and
medicine share their expertise to save lives. According
to Fukuda, “medical robotics is a very interdisciplinary
area.” It draws upon the expertise of surgeons, medical
researchers, robotics engineers, and even computer
programmers.