A new robot developed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center could revolutionize surgery. Created by Dr. Umamaheswar Duvvuri, the technology is a snake-like robot that can make its way to any place in the body and cause less damage to soft tissue. Robots have long been proven to be successful in surgery. In 2008, studies showed that a surgical robot led to shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries and fewer complications.

A Florida hospital in 2015 used a robot to perform remote surgery on patients. Skilled surgeons are still a necessity in the operating room, but robots are becoming increasingly popular as “assistants.” They join the procedure tableside and may someday allow people with only basic medical knowledge to perform complex operations outside of a hospital setting.  These robots have their limitations, such as issues concerning large tumors, but they still provide a valuable tool for surgeons who want the best outcomes possible for their patients.