FX-series medical assistant droid

"We need more Effex droids. I've put in this requisition three times. Every day you delay, clone troopers die."

The FX-series medical assistant droid, also referred to as Fixits, was a medical droid series line produced by Medtech Industries. There were multiple models and they were often immobile, cylindrical droids with numerous arms that assisted patients during surgery or other medical procedures. FX-series droids were originally meant to assist organic doctors, but soon began working in tandem with specialized surgical droids such as the 2-1B.

Description

The FX-series was designed with utility in mind; each unit was symmetrical and cylindrical and no attempt was made to make it look humanoid.^[1] Nine separate models were produced that shared a basic design, ranging from the FX-1 to the FX-9.^[3] The units were not designed to be mobile^[1] as it was assumed that they would be stationed in operating theaters.^[3] FX droids either had to be physically dragged from one location to another^[1] or ferried on repulsorcarts. The FX-6 model had a trio of casters built into the bottom allowing it to roll.^[3]

The cap-shaped head of the FX-series was capable of rotating a full three hundred and sixty degrees, and was fitted with photoreceptors, medical diagnostic sensors, and a scomp link port.^[1] Some models were fitted with a vocabulator that could communicate only in droid or computer languages.^[3] All FX-series droids had an analytical computer and medical diagnostic package installed and their efficiency could be increased if they were connected to a surgical droid or medical mainframe via the scomp link. Monitor screens were installed on the head and upper body that could display information, charts, graphs and schematics,^[1] and could also be used to transmit the FX's thoughts in Basic.^[3]

The majority of the droid's body was comprised of manipulator arms on a rotating base. The standard number of arms was twenty,^[1] although this could vary and number anywhere between five and twenty-five on individual modules. The arms were interchangeable and removable,^[3] and they laid flat in a protective groove when not in use. Each was equipped with a variety of implements such as grippers, medical tools,^[1] injectors, and gas masks^[4] that could be swapped out to better suit the medical environment the droid was operating in.^[3] The limbs were lightweight and easy to damage, but since FX droids were not expected to operate in rough conditions, this was not considered to be a drawback.^[1]

The droid's primary grasping arm was situated at the top of the FX's torso above the manipulator arms. Capable of reaching up to one meter, the arm was sturdy and used for everyday work.^[1] The FX-7 had one arm, while the FX-6 boasted seven arms.^[3]

History

FX medical assistant droid . — FX medical assistant droid schematics.

Manufactured by Medtech Industries, the FX-series was designed to serve as a surgical assistant, although it was often marketed as a general nursing assistant.^[3] The droid was intended to assist organic doctors in performing medical procedures where they were commonly used to administer anesthesia to patients, monitor their vital signs during surgery, and provide the physician with the necessary medical tools to complete the procedure.^[1] After their release, they were considered to be one of the greatest additions to the field of medicine since the discovery of bacta.^[4]

With the release of dedicated surgical droids such as the 2-1B surgical droid, FX droids were retasked to work in tandem with them as well.^[3] However, the introduction of such surgical droids reduced the need for specialized medical aides. Despite receiving few complaints about the droid's performance, Medtech eventually retired the line^[1] after decades of dedicated service.^[3]

During the Clone Wars, Galactic Republic forces often deployed FX-series droids at their Republic Mobile Surgical Units. FX droids were part of the duty staff at the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center on Coruscant where an FX-6 unit assisted with Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader.^[3] When Palpatine informed Vader that he had killed Padmé Amidala, his fit of rage and grief caused the Sith Lord to destroy everything in the room with the Force, including the medical droids. The head of the FX model that worked on Vader was crushed, as well most of its body.^[5]

By the time of the Galactic Civil War, the FX-series was considered to be obsolete. However, they were still common throughout the galaxy and found on thousands of planets in the Expansions Region and Outer Rim Territories. The Alliance to Restore the Republic used FX droids extensively and they made excellent bacta tank operators with the correct programming, with many used by both the Xucphra and Zaltin Corporations on Thyferra.^[1]

Behind the scenes

The second edition of Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back incorrectly states that the FX series comprised only nine models.

In the Battlefront series, FX medical droids act as health-replenishing stations that automatically heal players whenever they stand nearby.

Toy versions of FX droids

The FX first appeared in the vintage 3 3/4-inch Kenner line in 1980. Released on the new The Empire Strikes Back cards, FX-7 is a unique figure in the original line, consisting of a gray tubular body and a head that can be spun 360 degrees and extended upwards by an inch. Underneath the head is a rigid white arm terminating in a claw appendage. This arm is mounted on a spinning ring, allowing it to be spun 360 degrees around the body. The main part of the body has nine white arms that can be opened out away from the body. Although these limbs have no joints, they can be slightly articulated at the elbow and shoulder. There is a major variation with the FX-7 figure in that two different head molds exist. One head is smaller with differently situated detail from the other. Another shorter FX-7 can be found on card; this figure is simply missing its glued-on base that sometimes broke off during production. This shorter FX-7 is not classed as a true variation but merely a production mistake. FX-7 ran for five years through the Empire, Jedi and Tri-logo line.

The next FX-7 figure to be released came in the Power Of The Jedi line in 2000–2002. This figure offers a far more realistic look and greater attention to detail than the vintage toy. Twice as many articulated limbs as the vintage figure, jointed at the elbow and shoulder, give it much more detail and capture a close likeness of the original production prop.