A Surgery-Performing Robot Is Ready for Tests on the International Space Station

A surgical procedure - perform robot rise by the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and medical technology company Virtual Incision is ready to be prove aboard the International Space Station with a $ 100,000 President Grant award to the university from NASA .

NASA has big plans for the future of spaceflight , including an pastime in performing surgical procedure . That ’s why the federal agency go forth a concession of$100,000to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln . The money will be used to prepare a surgery - do automaton for testing aboard theISS2024 . The golem is predict MIRA , which stands for “ miniaturized in - vivo robotic helper , ” and can be operated remotely by a surgeon as a non - incursive direction to perform medical procedures in space . MIRA is a joint venture between the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and Virtual Incision , a aesculapian technology startup that operates on the university ’s Nebraska Innovation Campus .

“ The Virtual Incision MIRA platform was designed to deliver the power of a processor robotic - assisted surgery machine in a miniaturized size , with the goal of make [ machinelike - aid surgery ] accessible in any operating elbow room on the planet , ” say John Murphy , CEO of Virtual Incision , in a companypress release . “ Working with NASA aboard the space station will test how MIRA can make surgery accessible in even the most faraway post . ”

The 2-pound robot is minimally invasive and will allow surgeons to work remotely in space.

The 2-pound robot is minimally invasive and will allow surgeons to work remotely in space.Image: Craig Chandler/University Communication

While the ride to the ISS is a vast step , MIRA wo n’t be slicing into spaceman alongside just yet . The robot will instead go inside a locker that ’s about the sizing of a microwave , thin tissue paper analogues and moving rings along a telegram . Over the next twelvemonth , professor of engineering science and Virtual Incision co - laminitis Shane Farritor — who helped developed MIRA — and alumnus student Rachael Wagner will spell the robot ’s computer software , and guide test to check that that the automaton live the launching to the ISS . former tests include retired spaceman Clayton Anderson keep in line MIRA from 900 miles ( 1448 kilometers ) across Earth , and the successful removal of El Salvadoran colon tissue paper in procedures conduct by surgeons .

While launching MIRA to the ISS is interesting enough , this seems like the first sign of NASA ’s plans for retentive terminus space travel — however far off those programme may be . With the promulgation ofLunar Gateway , an orbit lunar frontier settlement from NASA and its outside and private partners , prompt medical subroutine in distance will be a predominate objective in the issue of some life history - threatening fortuity .

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