First Zero-Gravity Surgery a Success

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First Zero-Gravity Surgery a Success

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Wednesday September 27, 2006 @03:56AM from the now-where-did-i-put-that-scalpel dept.

MattSparkes writes "Slashdot reported earlier this week that the first ever zero gravity surgery was to take place. Today the team of doctors successfully carried out the operation, removing a benign tumour from the forearm of a 46-year-old volunteer. "Now we know that a human being can be operated on in space without too many difficulties," team leader Dominique Martin said after the flight. The studies show that minor surgery is possible even during long-term inhabitation of space."

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Lucky guy by LiquidCoooled · 2006-09-27 03:58 · Score: 3, Funny

The guy was crossing his fingers whilst the surgery was taking place.
Mind you, having his hand in a bucket of ice for the flight back would make them quite immobile.

Luckily surgeons here on Earth managed to reattach them.

--
liqbase :: faster than paper
1. Re:Lucky guy by buswolley · 2006-09-27 04:11 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, looks like the French fast enough after all.
  
  --
  A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.
2. Re:Lucky guy by buswolley · 2006-09-27 04:15 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  French Fast ENOUGH? OHhh.. They FELL FAST ENOUGH. Yeah they've gotten a lot of practice at falling quickly.
  
  --
  A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.
ick by the+dark+hero · 2006-09-27 03:59 · Score: 1

I couldn't imagine the mess they must've made

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Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Bamafan77 · 2006-09-27 03:59 · Score: 4, Funny

And if so, where do I sign up?
1. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Moby+Cock · 2006-09-27 04:02 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I have a long standing bet with a friend of mine that this has been tried already on a shuttle mission, but kept quiet. We agree that there is not evidence for or against it at present. ((I bet that it has happned, he bets it hasn't))
2. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 04:06 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, google for " Project Uranus" with Sylvia Saint.
3. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 04:12 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  If not, then right now would be a good time to try it given that there's a tourist babe on board.
4. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by jonnythan · 2006-09-27 04:16 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I would bet it hasn't. Shagging a member of a small, close-knit team that's focused on a very dangerous, mentally and physically demanding mission is a huge no-no.
  
  Astronauts are going to be very highly trained and motivated. No woman who has gotten herself that far would bang someone on a mission, and no guy that intelligent and ambitious would risk his entire life and career on a stupid stunt like that.
  
  My opinion of course :)
5. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Red+Flayer · 2006-09-27 04:19 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I'm sure some of the mice experiments involved reproductive testing.
  
  As to which astronaut actually had to copulate with the mice, I don't know.
  
  --
  "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
6. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Jett · 2006-09-27 04:25 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I recall there was (is?) a married couple who are both astronauts. No idea if they have ever served on the same mission, but assuming they have I would expect NASA wouldn't object to allowing them to "conduct some research"...
7. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Volante3192 · 2006-09-27 04:27 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  But what if a pair of crew members are married, like Mark C. Lee and Jan Davis of STS-47? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-47
  
  However, while the media jumped on it, I'm pretty sure it was a non issue. They've got tight enough schedules as it is on those missions without dealing with one extra biological experiment.
8. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by WillyPete · 2006-09-27 04:44 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  By the same logic, if NASA ordered them to do it, they would do so without hesitation. They may not be a military outfit, but they are dominated by military men, and perform military operations.
  
  I did hear that they supposedly shot a porn in a flight just like the surgeons. Never saw it, and wouldn't want to. They call those things "Vomit Comets" for a reason. I half expected to hear the doctors puked on their patient. They must have trained in Zero-G ahead of time.
  
  There's also a document floating around that discusses an alleged series of experiments in the cargo bay of the shuttle. Sex in Zero-G sounds awesome, but the lack gravity would make it tricky to get any leverage. The doc claims they tried several things, including ropes and a tube large enough to hold both "subjects." The document's probably a fake, but it does raise enough salient points to be an interesting read. Happy hunting.
  
  --
  Shaw's Principle: Build a system even a fool could use, and only a fool would want to use it.
9. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by david.given · 2006-09-27 04:49 · Score: 1
  
  But what if a pair of crew members are married, like Mark C. Lee and Jan Davis of STS-47? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-47
  I have vague memories that they were on different shifts.
  You should read Anousheh Ansari talking about how astronauts get along --- she was deeply impressed at how professional they are. I'd expect that a decent astronaut wouldn't do anything like that, simply because there's too much of a risk of making life harder for his or her co-workers.
10. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by La+Fourmi+Nihiliste · 2006-09-27 04:51 · Score: 1
  
  sign up at nasa headquarters and meet Olga, 5'3", 230lbs, your new russian mate!
  
  ----
  the 1st 10% of a project takes 90% of the time. the last 90% of the project take up the other 90% of the time...
11. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by djuuss · 2006-09-27 04:52 · Score: 0
  
  Actually, you can just hold the girl firmly by her hips and move in and out. Theres a dozen other ways i could think of now that would be easier, and a lot more interesting, then it is to have copulate standing up in a 1G environment.
  
  if you're really interested in the subject, there is a porn movie with scenes shot in a Vomit Comet, it was mentioned somewhere in the Comments of the previous article about this zero-g surgery experiment.
  
  --
  
  my capcha was condom
12. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by szembek · 2006-09-27 04:58 · Score: 1
  
  No they were together in space. At the very least for this photo: http://nix.larc.nasa.gov/info;jsessionid=knxt0w7kd f4m?id=STS047-12-002&orgid=8
  
  --
  nothing
13. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 05:05 · Score: 0
  
  Parent is referring to Document 12-571-3570, in case anyone is interested.
14. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Tackhead · 2006-09-27 05:22 · Score: 1
  
  > Sex in Zero-G sounds awesome, but the lack gravity would make it tricky to get any leverage. The doc claims they tried several things, including ropes and a tube large enough to hold both "subjects".
  Now that I've fixed your misplaced bold tags, what's the downside? (Giggity giggity goo!)
15. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Ruvim · 2006-09-27 05:39 · Score: 1
  
  I think it will happen soon as a married couple is launched. Another possiblity: Russians launching 2 space tourists at the same time, with one of them being a female.
16. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by chrysrobyn · 2006-09-27 05:55 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  But what if a pair of crew members are married, like Mark C. Lee and Jan Davis of STS-47? href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-47. However, while the media jumped on it, I'm pretty sure it was a non issue. They've got tight enough schedules as it is on those missions without dealing with one extra biological experiment.
  
  I followed your link and I found it quite informative and not very vague on the matter. "the first married couple to fly on the same space mission" ... "biotechnology" ... "fluid dynamics" ... "acceleration measurements" ... "Life sciences included experiments on human health ... human physiology and behavior ... biological rhythms. Test subjects included the crew..." One would think that sex in space would involve at least a few of those.
17. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by WillyPete · 2006-09-27 05:58 · Score: 1
  
  What you say is true, but without any sort of anchoring, you would be floating around randomly. In a crowded shuttle cargo bay, you'd be bouncing off stowed gear, which would be disconcerting at the least, and possibly dangerous. To say nothing of the nausea related to zero-g (your body's organs expect gravity). It could get real messy. Even in a padded room, you'd be knocking each other around quite a bit. In an early Mars exploration novel (Red Mars?), the author speculated that Martians ~1/3 gravity would be the perfect combination of levergae versus acrobatics.
  
  Not that I wouldn't give it a shot in zero-G, mind you. :]
  
  --
  Shaw's Principle: Build a system even a fool could use, and only a fool would want to use it.
18. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 09:18 · Score: 0
  
  " Theres a dozen other ways i could think of now that would be easier, and a lot more interesting, then it is to have copulate standing up in a 1G environment. "
  The midget porn has gone stale already? I bet you can think of many, many different ways you dirty perv...
19. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 11:09 · Score: 0
  
  Considering that astronauts Mark Lee and Jan Davis were married and on a Shuttle flight together. I'm sure it's happened.
20. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by NMerriam · 2006-09-27 11:13 · Score: 1
  
  I know NASA has flown at least one married couple, as well as other couples who wound up marrying later. The Soviets also flew couples who married. I can think of a half-dozen Astronaut couples who are married, and I spoke to one of the female astronauts from a married couple on my last experiment (In the KC-135 "Vomit Comet", to keep on-topic), and she confirmed that at least one couple has had sex on the shuttle, though she wouldn't say who (not that I blame her!). It's pretty much the worst-kept "secret" at NASA, as several other sources who worked in the manned spaceflight groups had said as much during my years working there.
  
  --
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21. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by Ruvim · 2006-09-27 11:44 · Score: 1
  
  that's answers it.
22. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by packeteer · 2006-09-27 20:55 · Score: 1
  
  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310288/
  
  All you wanted to know and more...
  
  --
  unzip; strip; touch; finger; mount; fsck; more; yes; unmount; sleep
23. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by swarsron · 2006-09-27 23:03 · Score: 1
  
  I remember reading something about sex on a russian space mission but it probably was a hoax (couldn't google anything to support it)
  
  But i found something else: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_in_space
24. Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research? by nbritton · 2006-09-28 00:23 · Score: 1
  
  Mission Specialist Jan Davis
  Payload Commander Mark C. Lee
  
  Those NASA guys have a twisted sense of humor.
Long term? by truthsearch · 2006-09-27 04:03 · Score: 4, Interesting

The studies show that minor surgery is possible even during long-term inhabitation of space.

They were at zero-g for 20 seconds at a time. How does that prove the same techniques will work after the body has been in zero-g for long periods of time? TFA makes no mention of this.

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Developers: We can use your help.
1. Re:Long term? by eln · 2006-09-27 04:07 · Score: 1
  
  This is a proof of concept. Now that they know it is technically feasible in a zero-g environment at all, they can spend the millions of dollars required to get these people into orbit to try it there.
2. Re:Long term? by kfg · 2006-09-27 04:10 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  How does that prove the same techniques will work after the body has been in zero-g for long periods of time?
  
  The issue is one of surgical techinique, that is to say whether or not the surgeons can manipulate the tools and patient in a manner to do the procedure.
  
  But yes, the whole thing is really a bit silly, the statements made rather sillier and they could have gotten largely the same "results" by sending up a manicurist.
  
  KFG
3. Re:Long term? by brother+bloat · 2006-09-27 04:14 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I agree that this system may not scale so simply. In addition to the issue of time scale, the doctors mentioned that they, in at least some cases, will be using robots operated remotely rather than the actual surgeons being present on board. One could argue that the success of this experimental surgery suggests that other zero gravity surgeries aren't out of the question. However, it's extremely difficult to predict how subtle differences involved in going from parabolic flight to space flight will affect such a complicated thing as surgery.
  
  --
  (( (CRAYON) )) >
4. Re:Long term? by truthsearch · 2006-09-27 04:21 · Score: 1
  
  Agreed. I was mostly pointing out that the last sentence of the summary is overzealous. Which of course never happens on slashdot...
  
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  Developers: We can use your help.
5. Re:Long term? by insane_machine · 2006-09-27 04:30 · Score: 1
  
  I can just imagine getting lag when operating in space with a robot. What is the normal reaction to lag? Try the same motion again. Now couple that with a knife and someone skin. That should be interesting.
6. Re:Long term? by radtea · 2006-09-27 04:53 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  From the summary: The studies show that minor surgery is possible even during long-term inhabitation of space."
  
  I love this kind of marketing-speak. People are told, "X is possible" and they assume it means "X is routine." What it actually means is, "Under the most carefully controlled conditions we tried X and didn't fail completely."
  
  Just think of all the times marketing has pushed for early release of an insufficiently tested app and you'll get the picture.
  
  This is an interesting and important step forward in proving that zero-g surgery is not impossible, but it is a long way from proving that zero-g surgery will ever be possible in most cases of interest.
  
  For example, removal of a benign tumour could wait until return to Earth in most cases. It remains to be seen if there is any significant overlap in a) surgeries that can be done in zero-g and b) surgeries that need to be done in zero-g. Although I suspect most laproscopic procedures will be fairly easily adapted to zero-g, it just remains to be seen.
  
  --
  Blasphemy is a human right. Blasphemophobia kills.
7. Re:Long term? by shawn(at)fsu · 2006-09-27 05:44 · Score: 1
  
  The logic is totally messed up here. Just becuase you do something once proves little. Imagine if the sugery had been a failure, that wouldnt nesicarilly prove that the concept is a failure.
  
  --
  500 dollar reward for tip(s) leading to the arrest of the person(s) who stole my sig.
8. Re:Long term? by miyako · 2006-09-27 06:11 · Score: 1
  
  no number of failures proves something is impossible, but it only takes a single success to prove that it is possible.
  If the surgery had failed, it wouldn't have proven that it couldn't be done, but since the surgery worked, it proved that in at least some circumstances, it can be done (it can be done because it HAS been done).
  
  --
  Famous Last Words: "hmm...wikipedia says it's edible"
In other news... by tompaulco · 2006-09-27 04:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

The first 2G surgery was ALSO a success.

--
If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
1. Re:In other news... by Kyont · 2006-09-27 04:33 · Score: 1
  
  Agreed... also the second, third, ... , up through thirty-second instances of both zero-G and two-G surgeries were successful! Tumor was removed, despite continual barfing from patient.
  
  --
  You shall see a cow on the roof of a cotton house.
Lots of blood by varmittang · 2006-09-27 04:04 · Score: 3, Insightful

Minor operations might be fine, but when you need to work on something that can spill lots of blood, like a wound or heart surgery, that might be a little more difficult to control were blood shoots off too.

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1. Re:Lots of blood by Moby+Cock · 2006-09-27 04:08 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  The presence of lots of blood is already a problem. It tends to pool, obstucting the surgeons view. That's why they have suction mechanisms. Suction is still valid in micro-gravity.
  
  I don't expect space operating theatres to look anything like Star Trek VI, with blood drops drifting about aimlessly.
2. Re:Lots of blood by Lord+Pillage · 2006-09-27 04:14 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  When performing bypass surgery the heart is usually stopped, or at least the part of the heart that is being operated on, so that you don't have a lot of spillage of blood anyway.
  
  --
  try { Signature mysig = new CleverAttempt(); } catch(NonCleverSignatureException e) { postanyway(); }
3. Re:Lots of blood by truthsearch · 2006-09-27 04:27 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  Can we look forward to a mind-meld with Kim Cattrall? Please?
  
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  Developers: We can use your help.
4. Re:Lots of blood by Yvanhoe · 2006-09-27 04:38 · Score: 1
  
  The presence of lots of blood is already a problem. It tends to pool, obstucting the surgeons view. That's why they have suction mechanisms. Suction is still valid in micro-gravity.
  
  At least, thanks to gravity, the blood pools and make it possible to just put a suction tube in the pool. In zero G, the problem is different, therefore, tools will probably differ too. Blood won't pool, but will probably "bubble". It could be an advantage if you need to work deeper in the wound where the blood would usually go but you would have to make suction engines with different specifications.
  
  Generally speaking, I think surgery would be a lot simpler in zero-G : you wouldn't have to worry about the orientation of the patient, of the constraints applied to every organ, etc... You still would have to overcome the beggining period where tools will have to be invented.
  
  Of course all my knowledge of surgery only comes from the MASH TV show...
  
  --
  The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
5. Re:Lots of blood by chris_mahan · 2006-09-27 04:42 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  Woah, can't believe it... A substantiated statement on /.
  
  What's this world coming to?
  
  --
  "Piter, too, is dead."
Next medical challenge by Led+Nudd · 2006-09-27 04:05 · Score: 2, Funny

Liposuction at 5000 fathoms in the Marianas Trench.
1. Re:Next medical challenge by CrashPoint · 2006-09-27 04:13 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  That sure would suck, and would be a crushing disappointment if it failed.
2. Re:Next medical challenge by Isotopian · 2006-09-27 05:16 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  That was a terrible joke to make. Do you have any idea what kind of pressure those people are under?
  
  --
  It's poetry with a beat behind it! And guns! They're like beatniks with automatic weapons.
3. Re:Next medical challenge by CrashPoint · 2006-09-27 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, I'm sure they have more pressing things to worry about than a little joke.
4. Re:Next medical challenge by arachnoprobe · 2006-09-27 07:36 · Score: 1
  
  No, the pressing would be needed nine months later.
5. Re:Next medical challenge by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 11:07 · Score: 0
  
  Point well taken, but I've got a sinking feeling that would be only one of your worries as a deep sea surgeon.
6. Re:Next medical challenge by MarkRose · 2006-09-27 16:15 · Score: 1
  
  Let me jump on the bad pun bandwagon about research of such gravity.
  
  --
  Be relentless!
Mars, here we come by Sephiroth9611 · 2006-09-27 04:16 · Score: 3, Insightful

There aren't too many ways to hurt yourself in a small capsule. Of course, if there is anything serious, odds are you're already dead from vacuum or cold. This is a milestone towards proving that a trip to Mars can be feasible and that things that crop up along the way that are not serious in and of themselves can be dealt with on the voyage by a flight surgeon or a medic.
1. Re:Mars, here we come by buswolley · 2006-09-27 04:20 · Score: 0
  
  Thank you for being the first serious comment on the article yet. Interesting.
  
  --
  A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.
2. Re:Mars, here we come by Opportunist · 2006-09-27 04:29 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  How do you want to comment it seriously?
  
  What did it prove? That it is possible to cut human tissue during weightlessness, that it is possible to suck away blood without gravity, that it is possible to sew it back together while there is no weight attached. Personally, I did not doubt that this would be possible, but then, IANAM.
  
  What it didn't prove is whether there are any effects on the healing process, which would be, at least in my opinion, at the very least as, if not more, interesting. How does the human body recover in a state of zero-G? Does everything grow back together normally? How about the lack of "exercise" because you simply cannot and are by no means forced to.
  
  I had a surgery on my knee a while ago and the recovery was more painful than the OP. And that was NOT in 0G. There was a lot of exercise and a lot of recovery programs attached. How would this work in 0G where exercise and atrophy and brittle bones are already an issue when you're healthy?
  
  I think recovery in space is by far more a problem than the OP itself.
  
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3. Re:Mars, here we come by Sephiroth9611 · 2006-09-27 04:36 · Score: 1
  
  I agree, that is definitely an issue. The ISS needs to be completed and some actual scientists sent up to study this very issue. The sooner the shuttle program gets on with the construction, the sooner we'll have actual data on such things.
  
  Of course, it remains to be seen if NASA or any of the other space agencies will want to pay for serious medical research in LEO.
4. Re:Mars, here we come by macklin01 · 2006-09-27 05:23 · Score: 1
  
  The mechanisms of wound healing aren't too far off from embryonic development. (In fact, many people study angiogenesis by observing embryos.) IIRC, there have been studies on the effects of weightlessness on developing mouse embryos, as gestation time is so short. So, you might look in that direction for your answers. You definitely asked an interesting question!! -- Paul
  
  --
  OpenSource.MathCancer.org: open source comp bio
5. Re:Mars, here we come by networkBoy · 2006-09-27 05:41 · Score: 1
  
  FWIW, space, while cold, is a horrid conductor of heat. One of the bigger problems in space (at least in earth orbit) is how to get rid of the waste heat. I therefore doubt you will be dead of cold, vacuum, possibly (you've got a few minutes there IIRC) cold? not likely.
  -nB
  
  --
  whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
6. Re:Mars, here we come by WhiplashII · 2006-09-27 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  Well, wound healing has already been shown to work in space - even in vaccuum!
  
  On one of the missions, a small defect in an astronaut's glove eventually chaffed a hole in his skin and in the glove - his blood was leaking out into space. It was a minor injury, and the gloves are so uncomfortable anyway, so the astronaut didn't even notice until he came back inside. It turns out that the blood boils when it leaves the skin, but the platelet action is not effected so a clot forms anyway. Good thing too, since otherwise he may very well have bled to death during that spacewalk!
  
  Anyway, at least minor healing is known to be no problem. (I can't seem to find any references to this occurance on the web - I hope I am not passing on bad data!)
  
  --
  while (sig==sig) sig=!sig;
7. Re:Mars, here we come by Opportunist · 2006-09-27 06:37 · Score: 1
  
  Unfortunately mice don't fill out questionnaires. They can't tell you whether the limb grew together ok or whether they have strange pains that should not be there, whether it is fully useable or if unwanted and unexpected side effects occur.
  
  In short, we won't know 'til we actually have someone operated in space and his recovery monitored there, too. The big question is just, who's gonna be the poor guinea pig? Having an OP is usually something you want to be done in the most favorable conditions. After all, it's your health that's at stake. Maybe even your life, or at the very least something that will affect the rest of your life. A botched recovery can be even more a problem than a botched OP job.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
I dont get it... by MrTester · 2006-09-27 04:22 · Score: 3, Insightful

What does this really prove?
If there are complications its as likely that they are from the gravity fluctuations as from the near-zero gravity. There could still be complications with near zero g surgery, but they were mitigated by only being in zero g for 30 second intervals.
If they are looking at the procedures of surgery in near zero gravity, what have they learned? According to the original article this is preparation for tele-robotic surgery, not preperation for surgeons in space. So what lessons from this would apply to a robot?

I understand baby steps into these things, but this just does not seem all that useful.
Wouldnt it be more useful to send a rat up to the space station and walk astronauts through a procedure? Sure it would be a more expensive (the fuel to get a 1 pound rat into space vs the jet fuel and crew for 6 hours) but I would think the results would be much more telling.

At least thats my professional non-astronaut non-surgeon non-scientist non-accountant opinion.
1. Re:I dont get it... by Sephiroth9611 · 2006-09-27 04:27 · Score: 1
  
  Whatever the stated point is, it still forms yet another data set that NASA or whomever will look at with interest.
  
  At this point, it's not like the ISS is equipped to deal with science. As everyone who watches the program knows, the crew up there is there to babysit and look good for the manned spaceflight program.
  
  Be on the lookout for more like this.
robot controlled surgery? by thedrunkensailor · 2006-09-27 04:27 · Score: 2, Interesting

after RTFA, i noticed that they talked about havingt he next attempt at zero gravity surgery be robot controlled. maybe i'm misinterpretting but shouldn't they first develop robots that can perform surgey here?

the only thing i can think of that they meant otherwise was that the "zero gravity" twenty second portion would be robot controlled. can anyone clear this up for me?

--
i support the right to offend.
1. Re:robot controlled surgery? by Beefslaya · 2006-09-27 04:38 · Score: 1
  
  They do have robot controlled surgery here..
  http://depts.washington.edu/drrpt/2003/stories/cli nicleadership/robotic.html
  
  They are used primarily in small area's like brain surgery, and where collateral nerve damage is critical and can be kept to a minimum.
2. Re:robot controlled surgery? by thedrunkensailor · 2006-09-27 04:42 · Score: 1
  
  interesting. Thank you.
  
  I still feel that they should have robots doing the same kind of surgery here as they would e in space, and it is not likely that brain surgery will be happening in space....yet.
  
  --
  i support the right to offend.
extreme surgury by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 04:29 · Score: 0

They've had extreme ironing now there onto extreme surgery

http://www.extremeironing.com/

its only a matter of time before we see bundgy surgery!
Robot doctors by thorkyl · 2006-09-27 04:43 · Score: 2, Funny

"The next phase of the program is to carry out a remote-controlled operation using a robot whose commands are sent from the ground via satellite"

-- Just f****** great, now they are going to outsource surgeons jobs to non English speaking countries.

-- Please hold while i look up you appendix.

--
-- I am the NRA, enough said...
1. Re:Robot doctors by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 05:06 · Score: 0
  
  -- Just f****** great, now they are going to outsource surgeons jobs to non English speaking countries.
  
  Could be wores. Could be Non-Oxygen breathing aliens on other planets.
  
  "Mnark, snek tanga Appendex, swejkk persplt"
Just wondering what the Benefits would be by eros275 · 2006-09-27 05:08 · Score: 0

I was just wondering what the Benefits would be? I can see a lot of probelms with Zero Gravity Sugery but does the good really out weight the bad?

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Life is good then we code some more then life is better. !#/usr/bash exec=sco
Next step a challenge by RealGrouchy · 2006-09-27 05:19 · Score: 2, Insightful

The next logical step is not an operation on a human in space, but on a small animal (such as a mouse or rat), since it would be disposable if there were complications.

However, the graphicness of animal testing is usually swept under the carpet, and is not inherently compatible with the publicness of recent space missions. The anti-animal-testing lobby will have an easy time of fighting such a test, especially if the scientists want to keep the animal alive for inspection (which begs the question how do you train a rat to urinate into a suction tube).

As for remote surgeries by robot, these have been in development for years, particularly for battlefield implementations.

As for blood, yes that is a problem, as 100% of blood would have to be contained; you couldn't risk it getting into the space-computers or leaving potentially-infectious traces on board. One spurt would be a big challenge.

- RG>

--
Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
1. Re:Next step a challenge by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 08:18 · Score: 0
  
  Wouldn't the blood clot in the air?
  Still not very pleasent to have floating around.....
Info: this was a pretty light surgery... by ivec · 2006-09-27 06:05 · Score: 2, Insightful

Just to keep things in perspective: the intervention they did is the removal of a "lipoma", which is like a dense hazelnut-sized ball of fatty tissue. It is barely more complicated that cutting out a tiny patch of skin to remove a mole.

I know a surgeon who has a buch of lipomas (like moles, some people just tend to get those benign tumors), and who routinely removes them on himself (only needs assistance if the lipoma is on his arm and he needs a second hand).

That is to say, I am not that impressed, this is not that revolutionary.
Probably requires bungee cords.... by StressGuy · 2006-09-27 06:08 · Score: 1

or something...every action having an equal and opposite reaction and all that...

--
A goal is a dream with a deadline
You're obviously not married by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 08:03 · Score: 0

I think it will happen soon as a married couple is launched.

You're not married, right?
1. Re:You're obviously not married by Ruvim · 2006-09-27 08:08 · Score: 1
  
  I'd mode it as +2 Insightful and -1 Troll !!!!
Zero Gravity? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-27 10:25 · Score: 0

It is weightlessness but is it zero gravity? The mass of the earth is still accelerating the mass of the person towards itself even though they are in a container that is also accelerating at the same rate. So it is merely an illusion.

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Alan Clifford
1. Re:Zero Gravity? by DragonWriter · 2006-09-28 11:15 · Score: 1
  
  It is weightlessness but is it zero gravity?
  Its as much zero gravity as any zero gravity in space, which is really just the same kind of free fall. Its not like you aren't, wherever you are, subject to the gravity of every object in the universe. So its no more an illusion of zero gravity inside the aircraft than zero gravity in space is an illusion.
Anti-septic? by misleb · 2006-09-27 10:49 · Score: 3, Interesting

I wonder if there is a significant increase in risk of infection. From waht I understand, zero gravity environments are notoriously dirty. Disgusting, even. You sneaze, for example, and the result just floats and sticks to the wall. Bits of food float around (harboring microbes, etc.) How does one create sterile environment in zero-G?

-matthew

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"THERE IS NO JUSTICE, THERE IS ONLY ME." -Death
1. Re:Anti-septic? by RockModeNick · 2006-09-27 15:47 · Score: 1
  
  I don't see why it would be gross there - aren't they constantly cirulating and filtering the air, as in any closed environment?
2. Re:Anti-septic? by misleb · 2006-09-27 16:13 · Score: 1
  
  I don't see why it would be gross there - aren't they constantly cirulating and filtering the air, as in any closed environment?
  
  Just imagine every cough, sneeze, loose liquid, food, etc just floating around and sticking to things. Even if you filter the air, you've still got stuff stuck the the walls. Mold is a pretty big problem in space, from what I understand.
  
  -matthew
  
  --
  "THERE IS NO JUSTICE, THERE IS ONLY ME." -Death
3. Re:Anti-septic? by Rowanyote · 2006-09-28 02:45 · Score: 1
  
  I am thinking that the best way to keep a sterile environment is to introduce it. Blow sterilized air actively over the operating field, just enough to provide a positive pressure compared to the room air. This has the added advantage of helping give a direction to any floating blood. You could even place several intakes near the field, with filtering to catch the blood and any other floating particles. Sterilize the air and feed it back to the output vent(s) and you have a closed loop that maintains sterility and won't mess with the air pressure of the sealed station.
oh boy by Wizzerd911 · 2006-09-28 04:27 · Score: 0

now all they need to do is create an Emergency Medical Hologram and they're all set

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Is it just me or is it not going to upgrade to Vista in here?
Re:Just wondering what the Benefits would be by DragonWriter · 2006-09-28 11:13 · Score: 1

The benefits mostly have to do with manned spaceflight, as it allows you to do surgery without returning to gravity if it becomes necessary in space.