Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, both in the United States, used a Spot robot manufactured by Boston Dynamics to interact with hospitalized patients. Instead of a flesh-and-blood doctor, people were treated by a four-legged bot.
According to the scientists involved in the project, the idea is to know how patients will react when they are being interviewed – or even examined – through a machine that neither looks nor acts like a human health professional.
“During this first test, we found that the vast majority of patients are completely open to this type of interaction. Using robots for routine medical care increases the safety not only of these patients but also of health professionals within the hospital environment”, explains mechanical engineering professor Giovanni Traverso, lead author of the study.
robotic doctor
After the advance of the covid-19 pandemic in the United States, Professor Traverso’s team began working with Boston Dynamics to create a mobile robot that could interact with patients who were hospitalized in isolated areas of hospitals.
The robots were equipped with sensors to measure vital signs, including skin temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation. They also carried an iPad that allowed remote video communication with a healthcare professional.
“This type of robot can reduce the risk of exposure of doctors and nurses to the covid-19 virus, in addition to helping to conserve the personal protective equipment necessary for each interaction. However, the question still remained whether patients would be receptive to this type of contact with the robotic doctor”, adds Traverso.
Almost total acceptance
During tests conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, patients were interviewed about their symptoms via a video connection, using an iPad carried by the quadruped robot. According to scientists, more than 90% of participants said they were satisfied with the service.
Surprisingly, the volunteers also reported that they would accept the idea of letting the robot perform a nasal collection for covid-19 tests, showing that the confidence in the machines can be similar to what people would have when interacting with human professionals.
“We continue to develop sensors to obtain vital sign data from patients at a distance, in addition to working on the integration of these systems into smaller robots that can operate in various environments, such as field hospitals or ambulances”, concludes Professor Giovanni Traverso.
Source: MIT
