RP-VITA Robot That can Interact With Patients Gets FDA Approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new robot avatar, called the RP-VITA robot, for Doctors. This new robot avatar can easily make its way in hospital corridors and interact with patients in hospitals thousands of miles away. The RP-VITA robot has really taken a leap in the area of telepresence. iRobot, the brain behind this technology, has given it a uniqueness where the robot can respond to orders without the need for human control.

"Previous generations have had to be driven. This one you can operate on your iPad by tapping on patient Joe Smith in room 32, and it's going to go there while avoiding people and obstacles," the Public relations Manager for iRobot said.

Physicians will be able to access the robot's app on their iPad and get a picture of the electronic map of the hospital and instruct the robot to their next patient. They can also study the patient’s electronic medical record during the interaction.

RP-VITA is equipped with sensors, cameras, and a touch-screen display, including an LCD screen "head" which will display the face of the physician controlling the robot.

All this technology comes with a hefty price- at $4,000 and $6,000 a month for hospitals to operate, but promises to be a great shot in the arm for top specialists to monitor their patients. The product is likely to go on sale in the next few months.

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Source-Medindia