GlobalData: Leading medical robots used by the healthcare industry
Summary
The healthcare industry uses four types of robots to improve the current standard of care, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. There are specific product lines from each company focusing on individual therapeutic areas for minimally invasive robotic surgery. Cyberdyne’s Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) exoskeleton, which uses sensors placed on the skin to detect small electrical signals in the patient’s body and respond with movement at the joint, are designed to assist patients rehabilitate from conditions leading to lower limb disorders, including spinal cord injuries and strokes. Initial use cases for these products are relatively simple, such as helping people get into and out of bed, but they will increasingly be called upon to perform more complex tasks, from reminding patients when to take medication to providing emotional support. Products like the Robear Japanese, developed by research institute RIKEN and Sumitomo Riko, are already assisting patients and nurses in Japan.