It almost looks like something from the future.But in this case, the future is now.The Marcus Neuroscience Institute in Boca Raton, Florida, for the first time has used what’s called a Medtronic Mazor robot during spinal surgery.A spokesperson for the institute said it’s the only place in Palm Beach and Broward Counties using the robot.“This robot helps us with almost perfect precision and accuracy,” said Dr. Tim Miller, the director of functional neurosurgery at the institute.Miller is also one of the doctors that performed the recent surgery, which was done on a man in his 70s who needed his spine stabilized.“The robot is used for surgeries where we have to implant some sort of immobilization device in a patient’s spine, particularly when that involves putting screws into the bones of the spine,” Miller said.It’s no secret that accuracy is vital when it comes to putting screws in a patient’s spine.Miller said that’s where the robot comes in.Even before anyone enters an operating room, the robot helps map out exactly where the screws should go.“The software component of this allows us to plan these preoperatively so that we can have perfect screw placement at every level, essentially without error,” Miller said.Once the surgery begins, the robot is there to make sure everything is placed exactly where it should be.It makes the surgery faster, more accurate and, most importantly, safer.“Knowing that it’s going to make the surgery easier for me and that things are going to be more accurate and the patient is going to do better, that brings a lot of peace of mind,” Miller said.