Robotic Arms Could Halve Cancer Surgery Time

A new dual-arm surgical robot being developed in Hong Kong could remove gastrointestinal tumours in about half the usual time, according to a report in the final part of a Health Matters series on frontier medicine. The robot is designed to assist surgeons in treating digestive cancers, which affect the stomach and intestines. If successful, it could shorten operations and help patients recover faster. However, the technology still faces hurdles before it reaches widespread use. It must complete first human trials and gain approval for wider patient access. The report also shared the case of Ho Man-wai, who had a colonoscopy in late August. Doctors found three polyps that needed removal before they could develop into cancer. Two were removed during the initial procedure. The dual-arm robot remains experimental. Its path from trials to routine hospital use will depend on safety and effectiveness results.