Humanoid robots have become a focal point of technological ambition, with claims of surgical capability within years in mainstream discourse. These projections are aspirational yet lack empirical grounding. To date, no humanoid has assisted a surgeon through an actual procedure, let alone performed one. The work described here breaks this new ground. Here we report a proof of concept in which a teleoperated Unitree G1 provided endoscopic visualization while an attending otolaryngologist performed a cadaveric sphenoidectomy. The procedure was completed successfully, with stable visualization maintained throughout. Teleoperation allowed assessment of whether the humanoid form factor could meet the physical demands of surgical assistance in terms of sustenance and precision; the cognitive demands were satisfied -- for now -- by the operator. Post-procedure analysis identified engineering targets for clinical translation, alongside near-term opportunities such as autonomous diagnostic scoping. This work establishes form-factor feasibility for humanoid surgical assistance while identifying challenges for continued development.

翻译：人形机器人已成为技术雄心的焦点，主流话语声称其将在数年内具备手术能力。这些预测虽具抱负性，却缺乏实证基础。迄今为止，尚未有人形机器人通过实际手术协助外科医生，更遑论独立执行手术。本文所述工作开创了这一新领域。我们在此报告一项概念验证：通过遥操作Unitree G1提供内窥镜可视化，同时由耳鼻喉科主治医师对尸体标本实施蝶窦切除术。手术顺利完成，可视化效果全程保持稳定。遥操作使我们能够评估人形机器人的形态因素是否能在持久性和精确性方面满足手术辅助的物理要求；其认知需求目前则由操作者满足。术后分析明确了临床转化所需的工程目标，同时指出了近期应用机遇（如自主诊断性内镜探查）。本研究证实了人形机器人手术辅助在形态因素上的可行性，并指明了持续发展所面临的挑战。