Abstract
With the rise of digital technology, healthcare has become increasingly shaped by the integration of advanced medical technologies and devices. These innovations not only influence clinical outcomes but also reshape the relationships between patients, clinicians, and treatment systems. From robotic-assisted surgery to wearable orthopedic devices, medical technologies mediate trust, communication, accessibility, and perceptions of care.
My STS research project investigates how robotic-assisted surgery reshapes the surgeon-patient relationship by transforming the ways trust, touch, and responsibility are negotiated in modern healthcare. The study examines how patients and surgeons perceive robotic-assisted surgery and how technological mediation influences interpersonal dynamics within clinical care. I used a qualitative, mixed-source approach through integrating patient-focused literature with semi-structured interviews conducted with surgeons experienced in robotic-assisted surgery at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Patient-focused academic journal articles explored patients’ expectations, misconceptions, satisfaction, and perceptions of trust surrounding robotic-assisted procedures. Surgeon interviews explored how physicians’ tactile, sensory, and emotional experiences have been altered by robotic systems, as well as how these technologies have influenced their relationships with patients. After the interviews were conducted, the findings were cross-referenced with existing literature to identify recurring patterns and perspectives. All data were analyzed through the Science and Technology Studies framework of Actor-Network Theory, which conceptualized robotic systems as non-human actors that actively reconfigure surgical networks rather than functioning solely as passive tools.
Patients often approached robotic-assisted surgery with limited knowledge and mixed expectations, largely influenced by media portrayals, which have contributed to misconceptions about the technology. Their postoperative experiences, however, were overwhelmingly positive, especially when surgeons provided clear communication and reassurance. Lived experience and effective communication played a crucial role in aligning patient expectations with clinical realities. Surgeons, on the other hand, described robotic systems as extensions of their expertise rather than replacements for their judgment and responsibility. Their feelings of accountability and clinical decision-making remain the same, despite the increasing technological mediation. These findings carry important implications for the future integration of surgical robotics. Future research could examine how surgeon-patient interactions and perceptions of robotic-assisted surgery evolve over time, while also exploring how demographic factors and institutional differences influence trust, decision-making, and sociotechnical integration in surgical care.
My technical project focuses on the design, development, and preliminary evaluation of the Velvet Maiden, which is an electronic knee-distracting orthosis intended to provide a non-invasive alternative to knee joint distraction surgery for patients with knee osteoarthritis. The prototype consisted of a brace that incorporated a dial-based distraction mechanism, force-sensing load cells, and an OLED display to separate the knee joint in a controlled manner. It was designed using the computer-aided design software, Autodesk Fusion 360, and printed using nylon 12 through multi-jet fusion additive manufacturing. To evaluate mechanical performance, the prototype was fitted to a cadaveric right lower limb and subjected to six repeated trials under varying distraction forces of 0 kg, 2.5 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, and the maximum achievable distraction force. X-ray images of the cadaveric leg were processed on the Java-based image processing program, ImageJ, to measure changes in the medial and lateral joint space width. To assess the statistical significance of the results, t-tests and Spearman’s rank correlation were conducted. At peak forces of 100-150 N (10.2-15.3 kg), the brace achieved statistically significant (p = 0.0187) lateral distraction of 0.65±0.47 mm and non-significant (p = 0.26) medial distraction of -0.164±0.31 mm. A Spearman’s rank correlation demonstrated a significant positive trend for the lateral compartment (ρ = 0.63, p < 0.001), and a corresponding negative trend for the medial compartment (ρ = -0.43, p = 0.02) that indicated a non-linear force profile. Although the orthopedic device did not reach the goal of 5 mm of knee distraction, it provided limited joint distraction and demonstrated the potential effectiveness of non-invasive bracing as an alternative to knee joint distraction surgery. Further prototyping could be conducted to improve brace fit, increase force application, and enable testing on arthritic cadaveric legs as well as in human clinical trials.
My STS research and technical work are connected through the goal of implementing medical technologies to reshape healthcare by mediating the relationships between patients, clinicians, and treatment systems. My STS research paper analyzes robotic-assisted surgery as a sociotechnical system in which trust, communication, and responsibility are redistributed through technological mediation. Similarly, my capstone project investigates how a medical device can provide a treatment alternative to transform the patient experience for individuals with knee osteoarthritis. While my capstone project focuses on the technical development and validation of a non-invasive orthosis, my STS research paper provides broader insight into how patients interpret and respond to emerging medical technologies. Together, these projects demonstrate that successful medical innovation requires more than technical functionality alone. Robotic systems and medical devices must also establish trust and integrate effectively into human-centered healthcare environments. Both projects ultimately emphasize that engineering design and patient experience are deeply interconnected within modern medicine.
