First Zero-Gravity Surgery a Success

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."

Comments

Lucky guy

[LiquidCoooled]

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.

Re:Lucky guy

[buswolley]

French Fast ENOUGH? OHhh.. They FELL FAST ENOUGH. Yeah they've gotten a lot of practice at falling quickly.

Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research?

[Bamafan77]

And if so, where do I sign up?

Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research?

[Anonymous Coward]

If not, then right now would be a good time to try it given that there's a tourist babe on board.

Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research?

[Red Flayer]

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.

Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research?

[chrysrobyn]

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.

Next medical challenge

[Led Nudd]

Liposuction at 5000 fathoms in the Marianas Trench.

Re:Next medical challenge

[CrashPoint]

That sure would suck, and would be a crushing disappointment if it failed.

Re:Next medical challenge

[Isotopian]

That was a terrible joke to make. Do you have any idea what kind of pressure those people are under?

Re:Long term?

[kfg]

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

Robot doctors

[thorkyl]

"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.