Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has been testing a new piece of hardware to help them treat coronavirus cases — a robot called Spot.
Last week, the hospital began using the robot in interviewing patients suspected of having less-serious cases of COVID-19. It’s only been deployed a handful of times so far, but according to Peter Chai, an emergency medical physician at Brigham and Women’s, the hope is that using Spot could limit staff exposure to COVID-19.
“It also eliminates PPE,” said Chai in an interview. “Spot doesn’t need to wear a mask or gown.”
Spot was developed by robotics firm Boston Dynamics and has been on the market for some time. The robot’s distinct four-legged design helps it navigate terrain where humans and other robots may have difficulty going, says Michael Perry, vice president for business development.
Source: NPR