Robot surgery on humans could be trialled within decade after success on pig organs
The robot surgeons were schooled on video footage of human medics conducting operations using organs taken from dead pigs. In an apparent research breakthrough, eight operations were conducted on pig organs with a 100% success rate by a team led by experts at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in the US.
The Royal College of Surgeons in the UK called it 'an exciting development that shows great promise', while John McGrath, a leading expert on robotic surgery in the UK, called the results 'impressive' and 'novel' and said it 'takes us further into the world of autonomy'.
It opens up the possibility of replicating, en masse, the skills of the best surgeons in the world.
The technology allowing robots to handle complex soft tissues such as gallbladders, which release bile to aid digestion, is rooted in the same type of computerised neural networks that underpin widely used artificial intelligence tools such as Chat GPT or Google Gemini.
The surgical robots were slightly slower than human doctors but they were less jerky and plotted shorter trajectories between tasks. The robots were also able to repeatedly correct mistakes as they went along, asked for different tools and adapted to anatomical variation, according to a peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Science Robotics.
The authors from Johns Hopkins, Stanford and Columbia universities called it 'a milestone toward clinical deployment of autonomous surgical systems'.
Almost all the 70,000 robotic procedures carried out annually in the NHS in England were fully controlled under human instruction, with only bone-cutting for hip and knee operations semi-autonomous, McGrath said. Last month the health secretary, Wes Streeting, said increasing robotic surgery was at the heart of a 10-year plan to reform the NHS and cut waiting lists. Within a decade, the NHS has said, nine in 10 of all keyhole surgeries will be carried out with robot assistance, up from one in five today.
In the Johns Hopkins trial, the robots took just over five minutes to carry out the operation, which required 17 steps including cutting the gallbladder away from its connection to the liver, applying six clips in a specific order and removing the organ. The robots on average corrected course without any human help six times in each operation.
'We were able to perform a surgical procedure with a really high level of autonomy,' said Axel Krieger, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins. 'In prior work, we were able to do some surgical tasks like suturing. What we've done here is really a full procedure. We have done this on eight gallbladders, where the robot was able to perform precisely the clipping and cutting step of gallbladder removal without any human intervention.
'So I think it's a really big landmark study that such a difficult soft tissue surgery is possible to do autonomously.'
McGrath, who chairs NHS England's robotics steering committee, said autonomous surgery, while still years away, could one day lead to a human surgeon overseeing several autonomous robotic operations at the same time, carrying out simple procedures such as hernia operations or gall bladder removals more rapidly, with greater precision than humans and with less damage to surrounding bodily structures.
But he cautioned that autonomous surgery remained a long way from being clinically deployable, because tests on dead pig organs do not test the robots' capacity to react to a patient moving and breathing, blood running in the field of operation, an inadvertent injury, smoke from cauterisation or fluid on the camera lens.
Nuha Yassin, who leads on robotic surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: 'The next step must involve a careful exploration of the nuances within this rapidly evolving field to assess how these findings can be safely and effectively translated into a human pilot. Only then can this approach move toward, becoming a sustainable model for the future.'
She said training, education and patient safety must remain at the forefront.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
27 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Bigger is always better – and nine other sex myths busted
Asked to define sex, most people will say it means penetration and anything else is just 'foreplay', explains Kate Moyle, a psychosexual and relationship therapist, and author of The Science of Sex. 'This pedestals intercourse as 'real sex' and other sexual acts as something done before penetration rather than as deserving credit in their own right,' she says. Lesbian, bisexual and gay people tend to have a broader definition. Sex education historically revolved around reproduction (therefore penetration), which is just one of hundreds of reasons people have sex. If you think of penetration as the sex you 'should' be having, you might be missing out on the sex you genuinely enjoy. Whether you're in a penetration rut or tend to have sex the same way, challenge your idea of what intercourse means: 'Whenever you have sex, change one small thing – lights on/off, starting with your clothes on/off, a different position, or agreeing not to have penetrative sex,' Moyle suggests. 'Novelty can be a real boost for our sex lives.' 'Our culture treats the body like a lie detector test,' says Dr Emily Jamea, a sex and relationship therapist and author of Anatomy of Desire: Five Secrets to Create Connection and Cultivate Passion. We're fed the idea that arousal is instant, automatic and visible, 'but bodies are not machines, and things like stress, medications, trauma, hormones or feeling pressured to perform can affect its response', she adds. As psychosexual and relationship therapist James Earl puts it: mind and body don't always play nice. 'Men sometimes get an erection without being turned on, just like women may lubricate without feeling desire. The reverse is also true: you can feel aroused without the physical manifestation,' he explains. Try not to take the absence of a partner's erection or wetness as a personal rejection. 'It may signal that someone needs a bit more time, safety or stimulation,' Jamea says. 'Slow things down, check in and focus on what feels good, not just what 'should' be happening in the moment,' she adds. Experts are divided on the impact porn has on our sex lives, and even how addictive it really is. 'Some people may watch porn compulsively, but it's not because porn is addictive,' says Silva Neves, a psychosexual psychotherapist and author. 'It's often because they have other underlying emotional difficulties (most often depression) that they're trying to soothe.' But Alex Warden, a lead therapist at the Priory hospital, Chelmsford, who supports an increasing number of patients being referred to him with pornography addiction, says compulsive viewing can damage a relationship if taken to extremes. 'Partners usually feel betrayed and hurt, which can result in a breakdown of communication and intimacy. This tends to be wrapped up in a lot of confusion, shame and a host of mental health issues,' he says. However, Neves points out: 'Porn is not a monolith. There are multiple types of porn, some undesirable and misogynistic, and some very good ethical types.' If you are an avid viewer, he adds, it's best to be as open as possible and choose a partner who has similar values around it: 'Make sure you watch it in a way that's pleasurable, matches your own values and allows you to communicate your porn enjoyment with your partner without shame,' he says. This can affect everyone, regardless of sex or gender. A review of studies conducted across 18 years found up to 25% of men and 16% of women experience performance anxiety. The symptoms are often more obvious if you have a penis: not being able to get or maintain an erection, and premature ejaculation. With vulvas, it may present as reduced lubrication, pelvic floor tightness, reduced pleasure or inhibited orgasm, Moyle explains. The anxiety is often rooted in limited, gendered messages we receive about sex. 'We feel that if we don't 'succeed', we'll be judged and shamed; or we believe we've failed to meet our partner's (or our own) expectations,' she says. If you have performance anxiety and a regular partner, tell them what's going on and offer a specific suggestion for what could help. 'Where we have communication gaps we fill the spaces with assumptions, which often hold a negative bias, but pretending it isn't happening is likely to worsen the anxiety,' advises Moyle. If a specific sex act or position is making you anxious, put a pause on it. 'It'll give you a chance to refocus your attention on what is working and feeling good,' she adds. Jamea says sexual skills are something we all have to learn and work at. 'I believe we're born with the fundamentals that we need to be good lovers, but things happen in our lives – we're influenced by culture or have a negative experience that disconnects us from those innate qualities.' Good sex isn't about a talented performance. 'It's about how good a communicator you are, how safe you make your partner feel and how deeply you're able to connect with them,' she says. Whether you think you're good or bad at sex, having a fixed mindset kills experimentation and prevents growth. Jamea says there's one question you should ask during sex if you want to be truly great: what feels best for you? 'That simple question can turn it into a collaborative experience where you're co-creators and active participants with the shared goal of making it better for everyone.' An Age UK study found 54% of men and 31% of women over 70 are still sexually active. Yet 'older people are viewed as sexless by our society, media and the medical community', says Joan Price, an advocate for 'ageless sexuality' and the author of Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex. 'With a spirit of creativity and communication, we can be sexual beings lifelong,' she continues. 'Yes, sex changes as we age: we just need to learn to explore new ways of making sexual arousal work for us.' If what you used to do isn't physically possible any more, Price suggests taking turns. 'Instead of being frustrated that you can't find one activity that works for both of you, enjoy double the pleasure by giving and receiving separately.' For partnered and solo senior sex, incorporate vibrators into your sex life. 'They speed up arousal and are often the difference between orgasm or not.' Only 55% of straight men and 62% of gay and bisexual men don't feel anxious about their penis size. 'For men especially, there is the belief that the bigger it is the more pleasurable sex will be,' says intimate health expert Dr Shirin Lakhani. Yet the majority of straight women say they don't care about penis size, and 85% are happy with what their partner is packing. After all, pleasure comes down to much more than the length of a penis. If your penis size causes anxiety, share with your sexual partner how you're feeling. 'Even if society has made you feel uncomfortable about discussing penis size, your partner should be understanding and reassuring. There are of course other ways to enjoy sex that don't focus on penis size,' says Lakhani, who suggests oral sex or using your hands. This myth comes from the belief that sex toys can do things partners can't, and are therefore 'better'. Think of sex toys as tools, not threats. 'They offer something different to partnered sex. The two are not mutually exclusive,' says Moyle. Miranda Christophers, a sex and relationship psychotherapist and clinical director at The Therapy Yard, agrees that they can create different sensations, enhance exploration, add variety and playfulness, boost connection, and help people overcome sexual function issues. Moyle advises: 'If you're new to sex toys choose a simple vibrator, and trail it all over the body – not just focusing on the parts associated with sex. This can help build anticipation, desire and arousal.' 'Heterosexual men tend to believe that anal sex is a 'gay thing',' says Neves. 'This myth comes from poor sex education and gay male stereotypes, which can contribute to homophobia.' Anal sex can be enjoyed by anybody, regardless of sex, gender or sexuality. 'Numerous heterosexual men enjoy receiving anal sex. It stimulates the prostate (a gland found between the penis and rectum), which can be very pleasurable,' says Neves. Still, some men feel shame just for being curious about anal sex, and are less likely to seek information on how to practise it safely. 'Start slowly, because the lining of the anus is delicate. Access information on douching, and use plenty of lube,' Neves advises. 'You can start by trying a sex toy specifically designed for prostate massage to experiment with how it feels for you. Take it one step at a time.' 'The word 'drive' is a misnomer,' Jamea says. 'It's better understood as a motivational system that orients us towards pleasure, connection, novelty or emotional closeness.' Sexual desire is a lot more complex than the drive that comes from hunger or thirst. It also isn't static and can be shaped by context, stress, hormones, relationship dynamics, how much sleep you've had and how emotionally safe you feel with a partner. Jamea suggests trying to think of your sex drive as like a compass that points you towards what helps you feel most alive and connected. 'Rather than asking, 'Am I in the mood right now?', ask what conditions – individually, relationally or environmentally – could help me feel more open to desire.'
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
From boosting your immunity to feeling Zen: why you should embrace a cold shower
The ripple effect of 'cold water therapy' has spread far and wide – from the icy garden tubs on your social media feed to the friends telling you about their refreshing sea swims. But, guess what? Harnessing the wellness perks of chilly dips – which we'll get to in a moment – can be a seamless part of your daily routine, accessed at the simple blast of a shower head. Indeed, 'cold shower therapy' is poised to make a big splash in the UK's bathrooms this summer. However, before you muse that this is what you already inadvertently 'enjoy' while waiting for the water to heat up as part of your regular start to the day or wind-down at night, the Mira Activate with ColdBoost proves there's much more to it. As part of the UK's first guided cold water experience digital shower, you can plunge into the science-backed benefits from the comfort of your own bathroom. While Mira's setup may seem like something from the future – with a sleek display showing everything from live temperature to flow rate – what's now known as cold water therapy can, in fact, be traced to ancient Greece. Back then, according to research, Hippocrates explored the use of cold water for boosting energy and increasing strength. In the present, being immersed in breathtaking water temperatures is more popular than ever – let's dive into why … Want to lift your spirits in the coming months? Earlier this year, a review by the University of South Australia of 11 studies exploring the health impact of cold water immersion concluded that it could reduce stress levels for up to 12 hours afterwards. And fortunately, with Mira's ColdBoost 'experiences' ranging from just one to three minutes, you can easily find the time in your schedule, and then enjoy the long-lasting mental positives. Better still, the temperature gradually rises before the shower automatically turns off, so you aren't shivering your way into your towel. You're also likely to register the positive effects far sooner than you think. A 2022 study published in the journal Current Psychology discovered that participants who took cold showers for up to one minute every day reported feeling more Zen after just two weeks. It is thought the mood-boosting benefits come from an increase in feelgood neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, which are triggered by the chill. There's also evidence that cold water therapy can help boost immunity. A 2016 study took a group of participants who had never included it as part of their routine before and tasked them with showering at plummeting temperatures for 30 consecutive days. The finding that froze researchers in their tracks was a 29% decline in the amount of time absent from work due to sickness. Another study, from last year, suggested that the cold may enhance immunity by increasing the production of antibodies and inducing clever 'physiological adaptations' that prime the immune response. Now, both papers saw participants shower in the cold for 30, 60 or 90 seconds – and it seems structure and routine is key when it comes to absorbing the perks. Mira's ColdBoost feature allows you to time your own experience down to the second, with a clock on the in-shower digital display counting you down encouragingly. It's important to note that those with certain health conditions – such as cardiovascular issues or circulatory problems – should get the go-ahead from a doctor first, and that same goes if you're pregnant. Science has long agreed that a steamy shower shortly before lights out can help you nod off – with research showing that it aids the natural temperature regulation process that helps the body wind down in preparation to snooze. However, there's evidence that exposure to cold water earlier in the day – when it is likely to perk you up – may actually be conducive to sleep quality at night, with Mira's ColdBoost there exactly when you need it. In one study, a group of runners with cold water exposure clocked more slow-wave sleep – the deepest sleep stage, which is vital for mental and physical recovery overnight – in the first three hours of shut-eye. They also stirred less throughout the night. Similarly, other research looking at swimmers found that just five minutes of chilly immersion was all it took to wake up feeling more refreshed. It is thought this is because cold water activates the parasympathetic nervous system – also known as the 'rest and digest' system – which relaxes the body. Sounds dreamy. You probably know that cold water therapy has long been utilised by athletes as an effective recovery tool. Indeed, research from 2022 confirmed its positive effects, particularly after high-intensity exercise or endurance training. However, while ice baths may have been traditionally used after workouts to soothe sore muscles, for the rest of us there is evidence that showers trump baths for being more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly – and are easier to fit in post cool-down. Although, take note of a study published this year warning against plunging into cold water too soon after exercise on account of blood flow and amino acid delivery to muscles. The latest advice is to wait a few hours after unlacing your trainers, at which point you can conveniently select one of Mira's ColdBoost presets via voice, app or digital display. Each of the four levels includes a different temperature drop and duration – ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced immersion – so you can safely explore a cold blast at your own pace. Now, that's cool. Upgrade your everyday with Mira Activate with ColdBoost™ – the UK's first guided cold water experience digital shower
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports
July 11 (Reuters) - Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab has agreed to pay about $2.4 billion in a deal to license the technology of artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool Windsurf, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Earlier on Friday, a Google spokesperson told Reuters that the company has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and select members of the coding tool's research and development team to join its DeepMind division, in a move to strengthen itself in the race for AI leadership.
