Health systems face growing demand for devices that are gentler, more adaptive and more accessible, and soft robotics answers this need by changing what machines can safely touch and how they move. A review by Daniela Rus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Michael T. Tolley at University of California San Diego explains that soft robots use compliant materials and continuum structures to interact with delicate biological tissues in ways rigid machines cannot, making minimally invasive procedures less traumatic and expanding possibilities for wearable and implantable devices.
Clinical advantages
Soft actuators and sensors reshape interactions inside the human body and at its surface. George M. Whitesides at Harvard University demonstrated soft pneumatic grippers that handle fragile objects without damage, a principle that translates to tissue manipulation during surgery. Carmel Majidi at Carnegie Mellon University has advanced soft electronic systems that conform to skin and organs, enabling prosthetic interfaces and monitoring devices that prioritize comfort and long-term wear. These approaches reduce pressure points, shear and puncture risk, which directly affects recovery times and patient experience in hospitals and community clinics.
Design and production
Materials science and fabrication determine which medical functions soft devices can perform. Rus and Tolley highlight additive manufacturing and molding techniques that produce gradient stiffness and embedded channels for actuation, while regulatory guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shapes testing, sterilization and biocompatibility pathways that designers must follow. Manufacturing in different territories brings cultural and logistical considerations; low-cost elastomer molding developed in academic labs can be adapted for clinics with limited resources, altering procurement and training patterns across regions.
Human, cultural and environmental impacts
Soft medical devices influence care beyond technical performance. Their quieter, less intrusive operation changes patient perceptions of treatment and can lower barriers to seeking care in communities where invasive interventions are culturally stigmatized. Materials choices also carry environmental consequences; research into recyclable and bioresorbable elastomers aims to reduce medical waste in hospitals and rural facilities. When designers follow evidence from leading researchers and institutions, medical device development shifts from imposing rigid tools toward empathetic technologies that reflect human anatomy, cultural contexts and the practical constraints of healthcare systems worldwide.
