For most people, when we hear the words "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) and "Machine Learning" (ML) we immediately think of a dystopian, futuristic scenario.
Where once bionic robots represent ideas from Hollywood screen-writers and sci-fi novelists, we're now living in a time where robotic technology is progressively becoming reality and its integration into our everyday lives is happening right before our eyes.
With so many distinct aspects of our current existence being enhanced by the implementation of smart technologies, industries such as energy, financial services and manufacturing have thrived using these innovative technologies to propel their services into higher states of quality for the last several years. So why not healthcare?
In truth, it's not as far off as many think. We are already seeing the use of robotics and AI to solve important healthcare problems and experts believe that unyielding doctors and administrators are the primary roadblocks standing in the way of merging the latest technological advancements once and for all into hospital, health facilities and homes worldwide.
Assistive technology over traditional methods
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, so does the implication for state-of-the-art technology. The potential for patient benefits is tremendous and cannot be set aside. How we embrace the way robotics complement and enhance our existing healthcare services will ultimately define our capabilities to enable more efficient health services with improved outcomes and solutions.
One area of medicine for innovation is the treatment of stroke and other neurological impairments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 million people suffer strokes every year, with the United States accounting for nearly 800,000 of those instances. A third of those people - approximately five million - are left permanently disabled and have some type of physical therapy or patient care to help them try to regain even a fraction of their original physical mobility.
Paralysis or the loss of motor skills is one of the most common disabilities resulting from stroke and similar neurological impairments. This paralysis usually affects the side of the body, which can be affected by the stroke, and may affect the face, arm, leg or the entire side of the body, making it extremely difficult to complete normal daily tasks to the extent of even squeezing a hand to grip an object. Current physiotherapy methods rely on a series of exercises and stretches when assisting patients in re-learning movements - a tried and true treatment, but an antiquated one as well.
Assistive robotic therapy systems can guide the exercise treatment in a way that is more precise than a human therapist ever could be, especially due to the amount of data it can process and learn, making it "smarter" as it recalls the patient's capabilities and limitations. If a patient is unable to move, they are gently assisted in initiating movement towards the target. If coordination is the issue, robots can guide the patient through the physical movement in a way that ensures that the patient is practicing the exact movement in the correct way. As the patient gains strength and ability, the robots provide less assistance to provide a greater challenge.
Human therapists can only guide a patient through a limited set of movements during a session and with the ability to track only significant movements as progress. An assistive therapy robot can guide a patient through thousands of movements during a single session and capture even the slightest response while adjusting to the patient's constantly-changing physical ability. Small victories that would otherwise go unseen through traditional therapy became benchmarks for patient enthusiasm and success.
The utility of technology in the health sector is not seeking to obliterate clinical physiotherapists and scientists, but instead empower them and catalyze their evolution, enabling them to make far greater progress by relying not only on their own experience and review of quantitative data but also the accumulated insights from within all available data, surmounting to the entire corpus of what robotics merged with human experience can offer patients recovering from potential life-long conditions.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the human element of physiotherapy will not become obsolete, as the connection between a patient and their therapist is a vital factor on the road to recovery. However, most doctors are passionate about providing their patients with the best care available, and if the use of robotics coupled with AI and ML-based technologies demonstrably and convincingly improves the care and treatment of patients, most physicians will vigorously adopt it if it's readily incorporated into existing workflows.
Michal Prywata is co-founder, chief operating officer, and director of Bionik Laboratories, a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and mobility solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker's Hospital Review/Becker's Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.