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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now approved use of iRobot's Remote Presence robot for use in hospitals, according to media reports.

The robot, called RP-VITA Remote Presence Robot developed by iRobot and InTouch Health, is the first-of-its-kind to be approved by the agency. The robot can help doctors provide treatment for people from anywhere in the world via telemedicine.

The robot has been developed in such a way that it can sense its environment and avoid busy areas, and doesn't interfere with the activities of people around it. The company says that the robot can provide critical data and a way to communicate between various healthcare providers. The doctor can access information about the patient via an iPad.

The FDA approval means that the robot can now be used to take care of the patients before, during and after the surgery. Also, the robot can be used in any kind of specialized hospital settings like cardiovascular, neurological, children's wards, critical care units etc.

"FDA clearance of a robot that can move safely and independently through a fast-paced, chaotic and demanding hospital environment is a significant technological milestone for the robotics and healthcare industries. There are very few environments as difficult to maneuver as that of a busy ICU or emergency department. Having crossed this technology threshold, the potential for self-navigating robots in other markets, and for new applications, is virtually limitless," said Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot in a news release.

Yulun Wang, chairman and CEO of InTouch Health, also said that the ease with which the robot can be used could open up many more applications.

The robots cost between $4,000 and $6,000 and its first orders are expected to ship in the next few months, Boston Herald quoted Angle as saying.

Forbes reported that the company's shares soared after the announcement of the FDA approval. The shares are now $2.21 up, or 10.5 percent, to $23.32.