The head of Bournemouth University’s Orthopaedic Research Institute will explain, in his inaugural lecture, how to perform hip replacements in space.

Mars looks set to be our next home. NASA is already working on how to get there and 3D printers will build housing. However, how will we go about hip replacement surgery in space? One doctor has some answers which involve 3D printers, virtual reality and robots.

Professor Robert Middleton is an orthopedic surgeon, whose research with Bournemouth University’s Orthopaedic Research Institute (BUORI) – of which he is Head – is leading toward building robots which can operate in space. He has two decades of experience in the development of robotic surgery.

His work revolves around technology and medicine. He explains:

“Over the last few years, there have been dramatic advances in technology which are helping to completely change the way we train our surgeons.  Virtual reality training simulators can replicate almost every aspect of surgery, giving our surgeons the opportunity to practice meticulously before they even reach the operating theatre.”

The Institute specializes in osteoarthritis of the hip. Their work focuses on both treatment and prevention. Middleton’s inaugural lecture this evening is Performing Hip Replacements in Space. He explains:

“This is a problem that needs solving as the Mars One mission to establish a permanent colony has started training its astronauts. The trip to Mars is a one way ticket and the astronauts won’t be returning to earth.”

Performing Hip Replacements in Space

Middleton’s reason for focusing on hip surgery is that it’s the most common operation performed on earth. He reasons that it’ll most likely be common on Mars too.

He continues:

“We are two thirds of the way here at Bournemouth University. You could come in today, we could scan your hip and we can design a custom hip then we can send that information to anywhere in the world or in space and with a 3D printer you can print a Titanium hip. The final piece of that puzzle is performing the surgery and as I don’t fancy myself going up to Mars for life, we’re developing robots to be able to do that.”

Impressively, Middleton expects the first new robot to be developed in the next year. It will then be designed to perform hip replacements. This research and development will take place at Bournemouth University.

As well as explaining this during his lecture, Middleton offers attendees the chance to give virtual surgery a try. They can also check out state of the art surgical equipment.

Middleton is positive about the future. He explains: “I think we are going to see more changes in the next 10 years than in the last 100. I think robots will become nanorobots and these are robots the size of a full stop that will be able to inject into people’s joints, to reshape and repair and relieve pain.”

Source: Daily Echo