A trial showed that human-operated robots can successfully complete at least some surgeries. File Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA
July 9 (UPI) — A humanoid robot successfully assisted during a laparoscopic surgery for a gall bladder removal, suggesting that robots may serve a purpose in some health care scenarios.
The operation, which involved surgery on non-human primates, could pave the way toward robots assisting with surgeries on human beings, the University of California San Diego said in a news release.
In a study published in the journal Nature, UCSD researchers outlined two surgeries that were performed with the assistance of non-human robotic humanoids on non-primate mammals.
“Remotely operated and autonomous humanoid robots have real potential for amplifying access to critical surgeries to which patients would otherwise not have access,” Michael Yip, UC San Diego Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said.
“Our goal is an operating theater of the future, where humanoid robots and humans work side by side as an integrated team to deliver procedures to those in need, both in traditional hospital settings, as well as in non-traditional, field medicine scenarios,” Yip said.
The benefit, Shanglei Liu, assistant professor of surgery at UCSD in its School of Medicine, said that using robots for some surgeries could help to curtail costs and staff needed for surgical procedures.
“It’s easy to deploy,” she said, “anywhere from rural areas, to the battlefield, and even to space,” Liu said.
Liu said that one of the research team’s goals is to develop autonomous surgical assistants in order to treat people in areas that are difficult to get to.
“One of our goals is to develop the autonomous surgical assistant,” Yip said, adding that using robots in places where there are not enough doctors could solve the problem of patients not being treated.
Olympic canoeist David Hearn departs the Moultrie Courthouse after pleading not guilty to damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Thursday. Hearn was indicted on July 2 on one count of destruction of property of more than $1,000 for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
GREG James has confirmed his Radio 1 show return and revealed that he’s ‘exhausted’ as he shared an update on his dad’s recent open heart surgeries.
The radio star, 40, was missing from the Radio 1 Breakfast, which airs weekdays from 7am to 10:30am, on Wednesday and Thursday (18 June 2026).
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Greg James shared an update following on from his dad’s open heart surgeriesCredit: InstagramThe star has also confirmed when he will be back presenting Radio 1 BreakfastCredit: Getty
Greg took to his Instagram story this morning to reveal the heart-breaking reason why – and admitted that he’s “in no fit state” because his father Alan Milward has undergone heart surgery.
Then this afternoon, he decided to give his 1.3m followers on the social media platform an update.
Sharing a selfie from a sauna, Greg wrote: “Hello from the sauna! I felt daft updating on all of this but because it was such a loud part of the comic relief challenge, I feel like it’s nice to be honest about it all.
“Just to say, my dad is responsive, just about conscious and being looked after amazingly.
Greg pictured with his dad AlanCredit: InstagramGreg took to his Instagram page to share why he wasn’t on the radio on Wednesday and ThursdayCredit: @greg_james/Instagram
“Obviously, after two open heart surgeries in three months, he’s not out of the woods by a long way, but we’re hopeful he’ll be fixed and we can all just get on with life.
“Which is what I’m gonna try and do.
“I won’t keep updating on here about it all as quite frankly, we’re all exhausted by it and it’s going to be a long road to recovery.”
He then went on to share exactly when he’ll be back on the radio – and fans don’t have long to wait.
The presenter later explained that he was ‘no fit state to be on the radio’Credit: @greg_james/InstagramEarlier this year Greg took part in a 1,000km tandem bike ride for Red Nose Day and opened up about his dad’s strokeCredit: instagram/@bbcradio1
Greg continued: “I’ve wanted to make sure my mum is OK so it’s been nice to spend loads of time with her and my big sis, but I’m back to the show tomorrow and I can’t wait.
“Thank you again for the most amazing load of messages.
“It’s genuinely very comforting.”
It comes after Greg told fans yesterday: “Hello from my mum’s garden! I wasn’t on the breakfast show today as my dad was in for another go at heart surgery (it’s been a wild few months and I didn’t want to bore you with it all).
“But here we are. Back to square one. Waiting for news and staying distracted and keeping calm by making water features.
“All being well, back on tomorrow morning.”
However Greg later revealed Alan’s surgery took “much longer” than they’d expected so he would be taking another day off.
He said: “What a great day! An absolute hoot in ICU.
“Surgery was much longer than everyone hoped. Big up my mum and my big sis. And the surgeons. And the NHS. What a gang. We’ve all gone mad.
“Real talk, surgery went ok but he’s far from out of the woods so I’m gonna take it easy tomorrow and hopefully back on Friday.
“Plus, I’m in no fit state to be on the radio. I mean, look at me, I’m posting photos from intensive care ffs. Thank you for your lovely messages.”
In March Greg had to cancel his show and rush home after Alan suffered a stroke during a planned heart operation.
He later opened up about his dad’s struggles during his 1,000km tandem bike ride for Red Nose Day.
He said: “I feel elated. I feel a bit overwhelmed by all these people who just turned up out of nowhere. I just burst into tears as I was going up to Blaenavon. It was all a bit much.
“Just thought about… I just thought about everything. Just thought about my dad, thought about my mum. It got way too much. It’s so silly. It must have been the altitude.”
