Finally, the surgeon can use robotic actuators in procedures that exploit their strengths. A major roadblock to the use of robots in operating rooms is capital cost, and the perception that adding technology to the operating room will drive up costs. The safety requirements for medical devices are far more stringent than for standard industrial machines, and robots are no exception. Both rigorous testing and redundant safeguards are necessary for these applications. In particular, the actuators must be designed with safety in mind.
Sterility is a major issue for medical robots.
Most of the robot can usually be draped or covered with a sterile bag, leaving only the instruments or end-actuators to be sterilized. Sterilization by gas or soaking tend to be less destructive to equipment, but also less common, than using an autoclave. For minimally invasive procedures, the actuator sizes must be designed to pass through a small opening in the patient's body. Given these requirements for surgical robots, one might be surprised at how far these devices have already been developed. In addition to research robots in development at a number of universities and hospitals, several companies offer commercial devices.