neuroArm gives surgeons extra dexterity, sense of touch

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.

[Hon Weng Chong @ Apr 19th 2007 4:56AM]

Wow, that's something for me to look forward too when I finish med school in 6 years time.

[humpty @ Apr 19th 2007 7:25AM]

Its the same Canadian company behind the space arms on the shuttle and ISS... for some reason canucks are good at making robotic arms?

[Gil @ Apr 19th 2007 7:52AM]

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.

[mondo1287 @ Apr 19th 2007 7:54AM]

...but can you use a Wiimote with it?

[Ike Turner @ Apr 19th 2007 8:02AM]

NeuroArm Masturbation?

[Richard Sportwood @ Apr 19th 2007 8:52AM]

"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

[johnzilla @ Apr 19th 2007 9:34AM]

@ 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.

[Richard Sportwood @ Apr 19th 2007 10:52AM]

"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.

[Richard Sportwood @ Apr 19th 2007 12:16PM]

HAH, missed* the point!

[Nick @ Apr 19th 2007 11:43AM]

I, for one, welcome our new-and-improved, 3D-seeing, orchestra-conductor-directing, Canadian-robot-doctor-arm overlords.

[steve @ Apr 19th 2007 4:20PM]

Just give the surgeons copies of Trauma Center. I bet it will improve the doctors' dexerity

[Mike @ Apr 19th 2007 7:09PM]

hmmm. looks like it might help me eat chinese food properly too.

[Teamster @ Apr 19th 2007 9:14PM]

Is anyone else reminded or RoSur from Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee's book, Rama II?