Robotics in Healthcare

A robot is a programmed actuated mechanism with a degree of autonomy. Medical robots came a long way since first prototypes based on industrial robots in the 1960s-70 s to become modern complex systems that assist surgeons, patients, and nurses. Over time, robots proved their usefulness and evolved for the ability to operate in confined spaces inside human bodies, help people recover the functions of injured limbs, or provide support to physically and cognitively impaired persons. This chapter provides an overview along with the challenges of current robotics in healthcare.