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Surgeons complete remote simulated surgery on International Space Station

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The University of Nebraska’s spaceMIRA, a compact robotic surgical assistant, made a historic debut on the International Space Station, situated 250 miles above Earth. On Feb. 10, surgeons on Earth remotely controlled the device to perform simulated surgical procedures in space for the first time.

This two-hour simulation involved six surgeons using spaceMIRA to dissect synthetic tissue. Dr. Michael Jobst, a colorectal surgeon from Nebraska, remarked on the delay experienced during remote operation, noting it’s “definitely slower” than conventional surgery.

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However, unlike larger surgical robots such as the Da Vinci system, spaceMIRA’s small size — just over 30 inches long and weighing around 2 pounds — sets it apart.

This innovation not only facilitates surgical care in space but also has the potential to revolutionize health care on Earth, especially in areas facing a shortage of surgeons. With one-third of U.S. counties currently lacking local surgeons, a gap projected to increase, spaceMIRA’s developers see remote surgery as a promising solution for improving access to care.

Although not yet approved for commercial use, the technology is viewed as a game-changer for the future of surgery.

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[KARAH RUCKER]

IN ONE PIONEERING LEAP FOR MEDICAL SCIENCE, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA’S SPACE-MIRA, A SMALL BUT POWERFUL ROBOTIC SURGICAL ASSISTANT, MADE HISTORY ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

250 MILES ABOVE. 

[Shane Farritor]

“Saturday was the first time that a surgical robot in space was controlled by surgeons on Earth to perform simulated surgical activities.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

INSIDE A DEVICE NO LARGER THAN A MICROWAVE, A TWO-HOUR SIMULATED SURGERY UNFOLDED SUCCESSFULLY WITH SIX SURGEONS OPERATING MIRA’S ROBOTIC ARMS TO DISSECT SYNTHETIC TISSUE. 

A NEBRASKA-BASED COLORECTAL SURGEON WAS THE FIRST TO TAKE MIRA’S CONTROLS, SAYING:

[MICHAEL JOBST | COLORECTAL SURGEON]

“You have to wait a little bit for the movement to happen, it’s definitely slower than you’re used to in the operating room.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

UNLIKE TRADITIONAL SURGICAL ROBOTS, LIKE THE DA VINCI SYSTEM, WHICH CAN BE THE SIZE OF A SMALL CAR, MIRA is remarkably compact, measuring just over 30 inches in length and weighing around 2 pounds. 

THIS BREAKTHROUGH NOT ONLY OPENS DOORS FOR MANAGING SURGICAL EMERGENCIES DURING LONG-TERM SPACE TRAVEL –ITS CREATORS SAY IT PROMISES TO REVOLUTIONIZE HEALTHCARE BACK ON EARTH.

IN THE U-S, ONE-THIRD OF COUNTIES CURRENTLY FACE A SHORTAGE OF LOCAL SURGEONS, A GAP THAT COULD WIDEN TO 30-THOUSAND SURGEONS WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE.

[Shane Farritor]

“So on earth, remote surgery could be very powerful. It’s a ways off in the future, but you can imagine so many hospitals in Nebraska where a specialist or a specialized surgeon isn’t available. And if you could have someone dial in from a distance and assist with the surgery, we can get people to stay home and get better access to the care they need where they live.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

MIRA’S DEVELOPERS SAY THAT THE TECHNOLOGY HASN’T BEEN APPROVED FOR COMMERCIAL USE YET —BUT BELIEVE LONG TERM IT  COULD “CHANGE THE FUTURE OF SURGERY.”