KUKA LBR Med first ships in September
"KUKA has broken the industry-medicine barrier with the LBR Med lightweight robot. The LBR Med is based on KUKA’s LBR iiwa industrial robot, which is designed for delicate assembly work.
To obtain the CB Test Certificate, the LBR iiwa lightweight robot for
industrial applications had to be adapted to the needs of the medical
sector and pass the tests required by the international standards IEC
60601-1 and IEC 62304. IEC 60601 is a series of technical standards for
the safety and effectiveness of medical electrical equipment, published
by the International Electrotechnical Commission. The international
standard IEC 62304 is a standard which specifies life cycle requirements
for the development of medical software and software within medical
devices. An accredited test body carried out the testing of the hardware
and software of both the 7-kg payload and 14-kg payload variants of the
LBR Med.
The LBR Med is the first robotic component approved for integration
into a medical product, meaning it is enjoying a comfortable space in
the market. KUKA is shipping the first orders for this robot in
September 2017.
Now that the robot is certified, it can serve as a base for many
medical devices. For example, the robot’s stiffness and stability make
it ideal for bone surgery. Other applications include performing
ultrasound scans, endoscopies and laser procedures, controlled either
proximately or remotely via telemanipulation.
Like other collaborative robots
that can interact directly with humans, the LBR Med has integrated
torque sensors that can detect external forces. It can be gently pushed
aside by the physician and withdraws automatically when touched.
Crucially, the articulation of the robot is highly accurate. The 7-kg
model has a positioning accuracy of ±0.1mm, with the 14-kg model at
±0.15mm. Robots with this level of accuracy could be used to assist in
minimally invasive surgery, according to the company. Such surgery could
also be performed remotely.
KUKA has made other forays into the medical field, with larger medical robots capable of carrying and positioning patients. For example, the Siemens ARTIS Pheno system uses a CT scanner on a large KUKA QUANTEC robotic arm and a tilting patient table.
The Exacure system uses the same arm to lift and position patients for radiation treatment.
Another interesting application of patient-carrying robots is robot
hippotherapy, or equine therapy involving a robot instead of a horse."
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