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Humanoid robots controlled by surgeons did world-first operation on live pigs
Researchers said the teleoperated systems matched established robotic precision while using smaller, cheaper machines that could expand access in underserved areas.
- On July 8, 2026, University of California San Diego researchers successfully performed two gallbladder removals on non-primate mammals using teleoperated humanoid robots, marking a world-first preclinical trial reported in the journal Nature.
- Unlike traditional surgical robots weighing about 1,800 pounds that require retrofitted operating rooms, the humanoid robots—nicknamed Surgie—weigh only 60 pounds, offering a mobile, cost-effective alternative for diverse clinical settings.
- While surgeons achieved surgical precision comparable to established platforms, the study noted technical hurdles including communication latency and multiple recalibrations that extended operating times during the procedures.
- "We were surprised at how well Surgie meshed with our workspace and workflow," said Nikita Thareja, a general surgery resident at the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
- Michael Yip, a faculty member in the UCSD Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, envisions these humanoid systems eventually functioning as autonomous surgical assistants to address global healthcare staffing shortages.
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42 Articles
42 Articles
A humanoid robot successfully performed surgery for the first time, which is considered an important achievement in the field of robotics and healthcare.
·Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
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Humanoid robots pull off first-ever gallbladder surgeries in major step toward human trials
Humanoid robots at the University of California San Diego successfully performed gallbladder removals in pigs for the first time, marking a breakthrough that could transform the future of surgery.
·New York, United States
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(Beijing=Yonhap News) Correspondent Han Jong-gu = U.S. researchers, using a humanoid robot from the Chinese robotics company Unitree (Yushu Technology), conducted a study on live animals...
·Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
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Humanoid robots performed their first live pig surgery in the world under the remote control of surgeons from the University of California in San Diego.
·Kyiv, Ukraine
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources42
Leaning Left3Leaning Right6Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Center
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
55% Center
15%
C 55%
R 30%
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