Scientists at NASA and the University of Nebraska have launched the first surgical robotics system on a rocket headed to the International Space Station where it will be used to test long-range remote simulated surgical care.

Dubbed spaceMIRA, the device is a modified version of the MIRA Surgical System, designed by Virtual Incision Corporation as the first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery (miniRAS) device. Both solutions are 1,000 times lighter than current technologies on the market, weighing approximately two pounds, and are primarily designed for abdominal procedures. MIRA stands for Miniaturized In vivo Robotic Assistant.

The launch took place on January 29 via the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The cargo vehicle was docked at the ISS on February 2.

From Virtual Incision’s headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska, a surgeon will use remote-controlled technology to assess the impact that zero-gravity conditions have on the device’s ability to perform dissections under a simulation mimicking surgical tissue with tension. The aim is to not just learn how it can be used to treat astronauts in space but also whether remote surgery is a safe, feasible option on Earth for patients in rural, underserved areas and military battlefields that lack access to such care.

"We’ve already demonstrated a critical piece by creating spaceMIRA, a robot capable of performing simulated surgical tasks, but also compact enough to meet the requirements for spaceflight. This is remarkable considering that the mainframe systems available today weigh roughly 1,000 times more and typically require a dedicated operating room. On Earth, a miniaturized form factor could significantly streamline the shipping, storage and set up so that the logistics on the patient’s side are much more feasible," Shane Farritor, chief technology officer at Virtual Incision and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Nebraska, told HCB News.



For its voyage, the researchers preprogrammed the space solution with long-distance remote surgical modes. spaceMIRA and the MIRA Surgical System can be inserted into the human body, with their robotic arms mimicking the movements of human shoulders, arms, and infinite wrists of a patient to create an internal triangular configuration that allows for more optimal control, precision, and maneuverability during surgery.

Their drape- and dock-free design and portability allow for fast setup in any operating room and eliminate the need for a mainframe room, and allow for fast cleaning and movement in between cases. They can be used as either stand-alone solutions or complementary tools at facilities that already have a mainframe.

“Exploring the use of miniRAS in extreme environments helps our teams understand how we can remove barriers for patients,” said Shane Farritor, co-founder and chief technology officer at Virtual Incision and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Nebraska.

The concept of remote monitoring has been tested previously in space with other types of medical devices. In 2020, an astronaut found he had a deep-vein thrombosis blood clot when he scanned himself with an ultrasound. Using the transmitted scans, a North Carolina doctor prescribed him a dose from a limited amount of a blood thinner on board the spacecraft until more drugs arrived. An earth-based radiology team guided him to perform additional exams to monitor his condition.

In 2021, Israeli researchers launched handheld ultrasound devices with AI software that provided real-time guidance to astronauts on board with no sonography training in performing exams on one another.

Formed in 2006, Virtual Incision has raised more than $100 million in venture capital investment as a company. NASA funded the device's development and mission with a $100,000 grant through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and began work on it in 2022.

The MIRA system and spaceMIRA solution are investigational and not available for sale.

The experiment will take place sometime over the next month and findings will be made available soon.