{"id":101,"date":"2024-09-26T20:44:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T20:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2024\/?p=101"},"modified":"2024-11-07T15:51:58","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T15:51:58","slug":"robot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2024\/robot\/","title":{"rendered":"Surgical robot takes journey to outer space"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nebraska engineer Shane Farritor makes little robots.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not that he and his team aren\u2019t thinking big. In fact, their 2-pound robotic surgical arm, MIRA, proved its mettle in outer space this year, an unlikely journey for its 1-ton cousins.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MIRA \u2014 Miniaturized in vivo Robotic Assistant \u2014 also became the only small robotic-assisted surgical device to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To bring MIRA to fruition, Farritor and a Nebraska colleague co-founded Virtual Incision nearly 20 years ago. The growing company, based in Lincoln, employs more than 30 Nebraska graduates. To date, the company has attracted over $100 million in venture capital investment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MIRA, the size of a forearm, has two arms small enough to perform surgery inside the body. Hospitals are already buying MIRA to assist surgeons in performing laparoscopic colectomies, for which it received FDA approval in February 2024. Resecting colons though tiny incisions improves outcomes and shortens hospital stays.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ongoing research will soon expand MIRA\u2019s surgical range, including hysterectomies and appendectomies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farritor sees additional potential for MIRA in telesurgery scenarios, when the surgeon is far from the patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNASA and the [U.S.] Army have their own ideas of where surgery might happen, and a small robot like ours lends itself to being transportable and deployable,\u201d said Farritor, Lederer Professor of Engineering.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2024, MIRA traveled to the International Space Station, surviving the vibration and turbulence inside a microwave-size box. Despite a lag in response time, MIRA successfully simulated surgical techniques guided by surgeons in Lincoln.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt went fantastically,\u201d Farritor said. \u201cWe accomplished every one of our goals, everything we dreamed of doing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As NASA pushes farther into space, Farritor said he believes MIRA will be ready to fulfill a critical role in caring for astronauts in health emergencies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the military, MIRA\u2019s size, simplicity and quick setup could help provide prompt surgical care to wounded soldiers, improving survival.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farritor says he also sees potential closer to home. Telesurgery would improve care in rural areas worldwide, allowing specialists to directly assist local doctors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re on a strong mission here to improve patients\u2019 lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rachael Wagner, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering, serves as mission control.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Monitoring MIRA’s space test<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A control panel and monitors used during the space test <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rachael Wagner (front) and Shane Farritor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Dmitry Oleynikov, co-founder of Virtual Incision<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Shane Farritor (front) and Dr. Dmitry Oleynikov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Shane Farritor (front) and Dr. Dmitry Oleynikov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Francesco Bianco (front) of the University of Illinois Chicago and Shane Farritor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Theodoros \u201cTed\u201d Voloyiannis uses the MIRA device.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Michael Jobst, a colorectal surgery specialist makes the first surgical robotic cuts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rachael Wagner celebrates MIRA’s successful launch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A close-up shot of MIRA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Michael Jobst (front) and Shane Farritor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Shane Farritor addresses the team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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