Robot-assisted surgery

Cognitive surgical robotics combines information from actual surgical experiences to improve surgical techniques. In this type of procedure, medical teams integrate the data from pre-op medical records with real-time operating metrics to improve surgical outcomes. The technique enhances the physician’s instrument precision and can lead to a 21 percent reduction in a patient’s length of hospital stay post-operation.

The da Vinci technique allows surgeons to perform a range of complex procedures with greater flexibility and control than conventional approaches. Considered to be the world’s most advanced surgical robot, the da Vinci has robotic limbs with surgical instruments attached and provides a high-definition, magnified, 3D view of the surgical site. A surgeon controls the machine’s arms from a seat at a computer console near the operating table. This allows the surgeon to successfully perform surgeries in tight spaces and reduces the margin for error.

Also under the physician’s control is HeartLander — a miniature mobile robot that can enter the chest through an incision below the sternum. It reduces the damage required to access the heart and allows the use of a single device for performing stable and localized sensing, mapping, and treatment over the entire surface of the heart. In addition to administering the therapy, the robot adheres to the epicardial surface of the heart and can autonomously navigate to the directed location.

Virtual nursing assistants

San Francisco-based virtual nurse assistant Sensely recently raised $8 million in Series B funding to deploy fleets of AI-powered nurse avatars to clinics and patients. The key goals of the technology are to keep patients and care providers in communication between office visits and to prevent hospital readmission. Sensely’s most commonly referenced nurse is Molly, which uses a proprietary classification engine and listens and responds to users.

Care Angel’s virtual nurse assistant Angel is another good example for this category. The bot enables wellness checks through voice and AI to drive better medical outcomes at a lower cost. It is able to manage, monitor, and communicate using unique insights and real-time notifications.

Digital Consultation

By combining the ever-growing power of AI with the best medical expertise of humans, Babylon Health can deliver unparalleled access to healthcare, including personalised health assessments, treatment advice and face-to-face appointments with a doctor 24/7.

With existing operations in the UK and Rwanda, plus plans in progress with major providers in China, the USA and the Middle East, Babylon Health is on the path to achieving its mission of putting an accessible and affordable health service in the hands of every person on earth.