IIT-Kharagpur in Kolkata has collaborated with the Intuitive Foundation to initiate a research program focused on creating AI-supported digital surgical models to enhance safety, reliability, and prospective automation in robotic-assisted operations.

In the framework of the collaboration, the institute launched MANAS (Multi-modal AI in Navigation & Automation for Surgical Robotics), which aims to develop organized digital models of surgical workflows by charting decisions made throughout the entire surgical procedure, according to reports.

The effort aims to pinpoint crucial decision moments and recurring activities that may gain from AI-driven support and targeted initial automation, as per reports.

The study will be conducted using the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK), a non-clinical platform adapted from decommissioned da Vinci robotic systems, enabling academic research in regulated lab environments without participating in human surgeries.

By leveraging real-world clinical insights, especially from recorded cholecystectomy surgeries, researchers aim to improve digital models that will enhance the safety and standardization of robotic-assisted care, according to reports.

IIT-Kharagpur Director Prof Suman Chakraborty stated that the initiative unites academia, medical professionals, and international technology collaborators to create strong and ethical frameworks that boost surgical safety and enhance patient results.

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Associate Professor Prof Debdoot Sheet emphasized that the aim is to record surgery in a way that can be understood by computers to enhance decision-making and reliably automate tasks that can be repeated consistently.

The initiative is backed by the partnership between IIT-Kharagpur and Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has established a specialized training and technology center to integrate skill enhancement with healthcare advancements, utilizing AI and digital resources for rural access.

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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has recently launched the School for Skills: Healthcare & Technology, a unique center on its campus aimed at merging healthcare education with cutting-edge technology.

The hub will start by training 150 students each year in allied health positions, while simultaneously acting as a venue for field trials and validation of healthcare technologies created at IIT Kharagpur.

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These consist of AI-powered diagnostic tools, remote monitoring systems, and digital health solutions targeted at rural and semi-urban regions of India.