Considering that a BSOD within the
robotic surgeon that's halfway through a critical operation on your innards is far from ideal, we're certainly in agreement with companies looking to make actual human doctors even
better at their work. A team of Canadian scientists and engineers have concocted the neuroArm robot to allow doctors to perform microscopic operations on the brain in a more precise manner. Essentially, the
uber-steady bot "will let doctors use surgical techniques on afflictions such as brain tumors that human surgeons are simply not dexterous enough to do," and when combined with a touchscreen
stereoscopic viewer, it enables MDs to better visualize the area they're working with through advanced depth perception and "3D-like" imagery. The neuroArm system should hit clinical testing sometime within the next month or so, and if all goes smoothly (ahem), the long-term goal involves "manufacturing different versions" and selling them to a variety of hospitals.
posted Apr 19th 2007 4:30AM
Wow, that's something for me to look forward too when I finish med school in 6 years time.
Its the same Canadian company behind the space arms on the shuttle and ISS... for some reason canucks are good at making robotic arms?
They've devoted a lot of research to this area of robotics so it's only natural that they have good results.
Their underactuated robotic arms are really impressive too.
...but can you use a Wiimote with it?
NeuroArm Masturbation?
"Considering that a BSOD within the robotic surgeon that's halfway through a critical operation on your innards is far from ideal, we're certainly in agreement with companies looking to make actual human doctors even better at their work."
You think the neuroArm won't be run by a computer? lol
@ Richard Sportwood....
As to be expected, you missed the point.
The point: a "robotic surgeon" means no human is around...you're at the mercy of the machine. Hence, a BSOD would be bad. In contrast, a mechanically augmented HUMAN surgeon would be able to step in and make decisions or take action if something went wrong with the mechanical part.
Pay attention, please.
"As to be expected"? When have I pissed the point in the past?
But anyway, no, I didn't miss the point, and yes, I am paying attention. I was just lightheartedly pointing out that the robotic arm, while controlled by a human, is still going to have a computer powering it. Don't get your undies in a bundle, kiddo.
HAH, missed* the point!
I, for one, welcome our new-and-improved, 3D-seeing, orchestra-conductor-directing, Canadian-robot-doctor-arm overlords.
Is anyone else reminded or RoSur from Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee's book, Rama II?
Just give the surgeons copies of Trauma Center. I bet it will improve the doctors' dexerity
hmmm. looks like it might help me eat chinese food properly too.