Robots Get to Work

Product: ParoMade by: Paro Robots U.S., Schaumburg, Ill.On the market: 2009 (in the U.S., has been used in Japan and throughout Europe since 2003)What it does: The Paro is a therapeutic robot baby harp seal engineered to deliver the benefits of animal therapy to patients in hospitals and long-term-care facilities where live animals can't be used. It senses when someone is holding or stroking it and recognizes names, greetings and praise. It can learn to behave in ways that its user enjoys—according to the company, the Paro “responds as if it is alive.” Cost: $6,000Users include: Alzheimer's Association; Washington D.C. V.A. Medical Center

Product: Robotic IV Automation (RIVA)Made by: Intelligent Hospital Systems, Winnipeg, ManitobaOn the market: 2008What it does: The RIVA system prepares IV syringes and bags. The technology allows hospital pharmacies to compound sterile injections in an environment that meets the strict U.S. Pharmacopeia 797 standards. Cost: $1.35 millionUsers include: Children's Hospital of Orange County in Orange, Calif.; Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City; UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco

Product: RP-Vita, RP-7i, RP-Lite, RP-VantageMade by: InTouch Health, Santa Barbara, Calif. On the market: 2008 (RP-7i), 2013 (RP-Vita)What it does: The InTouch Health suite of robots allows physicians to connect with patients and other healthcare providers as part of telemedicine programs for stroke, intensive-care unit, mental health and pediatric care. The RP-Vita, developed in partnership with Roomba maker iRobot Corp. and cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012, is the first to use autonomous navigation technology. Cost: $4,000 to $6,000 a month (RP-Vita), $2,000 to $5,000 (RP-7i and RP-Lite)Users include: Mercy Medical Center Merced (Calif.); Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus; Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles.

Product: Unnamed Made by: GE Global Research, Niskayuna, N.Y.On the market: In developmentWhat it does: Scientists are engineering a prototype system that employs robotics, radio frequency identification technology and computer vision to locate, sort, deliver and sterilize surgical tools. Cost: UnknownUsers include: GE plans to test the system at yet-to-be determined VA hospital in two years.

Product: RoboCourierMade by: Swisslog Healthcare Solutions-North America, DenverOn the market: 2010 (the next generation version of RoboCourier available late summer 2013)What it does: The autonomous mobile robot ferries supplies with payloads weighing up to 50 pounds. It can manage automatic doors and elevators to navigate across units and floors. A secure container can safely transport controlled substances and personal health information. Cost: $75,000 for the basic unit. Pricing varies with accessories (i.e., door, elevator and multiple robot interfaces). It's also available for lease or rental, with leases as low as $1,500 per month.Users include: Florida Hospital Orlando; Scottsdale (Ariz.) Healthcare Shea Medical Center in Scottsdale; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Product: TugMade by: Aethon, PittsburghOn the market: 2004What it does: The Tug attaches to hospital carts and navigates through hospital corridors, elevators and departments to deliver and remove medications, supplies, meals, linen and waste. Aethon says one Tug does the work of 2.8 full-time employees. Cost: A lease ranges from $1,500 to $2,000 per month.Users include: Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa.; FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst, N.C.; University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore

Product: PROmanager-RxMade by: McKesson Corp., San FranciscoOn the market: 2010What it does: The automated hospital pharmacy dispensing system uses bar-code-scanning robotics to store and dispense oral solid medications and manage returns and credits. Cost: Not providedUsers include: Somerset (Pa.) Hospital; University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City; Allegiance Health, Jackson, Mich.