Surgery in Space: Remotely Operated Robot Completes First Simulated Procedure at Space Station (CNN)

A tiny surgical robot in residence at the International Space Station completed its first surgery demo in zero gravity.

The robot, known as spaceMIRA — which stands for Miniaturized In Vivo Robotic Assistant — performed several operations on simulated tissue at the orbiting laboratory while remotely operated by surgeons from approximately 250 miles below in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr. Michael Jobst, a colorectal surgeon and member of the Bryan medical staff was part of the demonstration with spaceMIRA. The findings from MIRA are also valuable for expanding surgical options on Earth, such as in rural areas or military battlefields.

The milestone is a step forward in developing technology that could have implications not just for successful long-term human space travel, where surgical emergencies could happen, but also for establishing access to medical care in remote areas on Earth.

CNN has the exclusive story from Virtual Incision!

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It’s not a discovery it’s technical development and proof of principle