Robo-paramedics: AI to the rescue

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• July 20, 2023

Insight highlights

The University of Sheffield is developing remote-controlled robo-paramedics using virtual reality (VR) for remote medical assistance in dangerous situations. At the same time, the UK South Central Ambulance Service has integrated a robo-paramedic into their units, delivering consistent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The broader implications of these robots include potential shifts in healthcare regulations, increased accessibility of care, tech innovation, the need for reskilling healthcare workers, and environmental benefits.

Robo-paramedics context

To minimize risk to medical personnel while ensuring timely aid to wounded soldiers on the battlefield, researchers at the University of Sheffield are developing remote-controlled robots, termed the Medical Telexistence Platform (MediTel). This project integrates VR, haptic gloves, and robotic surgery technology to facilitate remote medical assessment and treatment. Operated by medics situated at a safe distance, these robots can be directed into hazardous conditions. 

The initiative, supported by the UK Ministry of Defense, is a collaborative effort involving Sheffield's Automatic Control and Systems Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), along with the British robotics company i3DRobotics and emergency medicine specialists. The MediTel robots are initially programmed for triage, taking images and videos of injuries, monitoring vital parameters, and collecting blood samples. While the immediate focus is on battlefield applications, the potential for use in non-military settings, like controlling epidemics or responding to nuclear emergencies, is also being explored. 

Meanwhile, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) has become the first in the UK to incorporate a "robot paramedic," named LUCAS 3, in their units. This mechanical system can perform consistent, high-quality cardiopulmonary CPR chest compressions from the moment emergency crews reach a patient throughout their journey to the hospital. The transition from manual compressions to LUCAS can be completed within seven seconds, ensuring uninterrupted compressions crucial to maintaining blood and oxygen flow. 

Disruptive impact

Robo-paramedics can provide consistent, high-quality care by taking over tasks such as CPR, which can vary in quality due to human fatigue or differing skill levels. Moreover, they can function in challenging environments, such as confined spaces or high-speed vehicles, thus overcoming the limitations of human paramedics. Consistent, uninterrupted chest compressions can increase survival rates in cardiac arrest cases. Furthermore, the ability to program these robots to follow specific resuscitation guidelines and collect data for later review can foster a better understanding of emergency medical situations and guide improvements in care protocols.

Additionally, the integration of these robots can augment human paramedics' roles rather than replace them. As robots take over physically demanding and high-risk tasks during transportation, human medics can concentrate on other critical patient care aspects that require expert judgment, rapid decision-making, or the human touch. This collaboration could enhance overall patient care quality while reducing the risk of injuries to paramedics and increasing their operational efficiency.

Finally, the widespread use of robo-paramedics could elevate healthcare beyond emergency settings. Robots with advanced medical capabilities could be deployed in remote or inaccessible regions, ensuring that high-quality emergency care is available more universally. These robots could also be helpful in other high-risk scenarios, such as pandemics or disasters where the risk to human responders is high. 

Implications of robo-paramedics

Wider implications of robo-paramedics may include: 

• Robo-paramedics introducing new dimensions to healthcare regulations and policymaking. Policies on robo-paramedics usage, their scope of practice, and data privacy may need to be addressed and constantly updated to keep up with the technology's evolution.
• Robo-paramedics helping meet the rising demand for healthcare services. They can provide constant monitoring and rapid response for elderly patients, improving their quality of life and independence.
• Innovations in artificial intelligence, sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT) telecommunication, and related fields, potentially creating spin-off technologies and industries.
• The reskill or upskill of healthcare workers to train them to work with and maintain collaborative robots.
• Robo-paramedics being powered by renewable energy sources and designed for longevity and recyclability, decreasing the carbon footprint related to manufacturing and operating traditional ambulances.
• A significant shift in public opinion and acceptance of AI technology in daily life. Robo-paramedics, being part of the crucial healthcare system, can contribute to such transformation in societal attitudes, leading to more widespread acceptance of AI solutions.

Questions to consider

• If you're a paramedic, how does your healthcare provider incorporate robotics into your operations?
• How else can cobots and human paramedics work together to improve healthcare?