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Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the helpful-for-gamers-too-eventually dept.

ferd_farkle writes "Science Daily has an article about engineering advances meant to help steady the hands of surgeons working in really cramped spaces like eyes and throats. From the article: 'The tools include a snakelike robot that could enable surgeons, operating in the narrow throat region, to make incisions and tie sutures with greater dexterity and precision. Another robot, the steady-hand, may curb a surgeon's natural tremor and allow the doctor to inject drugs into tiny blood vessels in the eye, dissolving clots that can damage vision."

35 comments

  1. obligatory... by nih · · Score: 2, Funny

    i'm sick and tired of these mutha fuckin snakes in this mutha fuckin stomach!

    --
    I'm a rabbit startled by the headlights of life :(
    1. Re:obligatory... by WilliamSChips · · Score: 4, Funny

      Personally, I wouldn't want a snake in my head...it could take over my body and start impersonating a god.

      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
    2. Re:obligatory... by lightspawn · · Score: 1

      Oh come on... you could have tried harder.

      Something like "Snakes in a brain".

    3. Re:obligatory... by sokoban · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's it. I'm sick and tired of these motherfucking jokes about this motherfucking movie.

      --
      09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 is the magic number.
    4. Re:obligatory... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nurse Jane: Doctor! We've gotta get the mother-fuckin' snakes out of this mother-fuckin' colon!
      Doctor: HaHa! That's no snake, Nurse Jane. I'm going to need two CC's of KY, stat.

    5. Re:obligatory... by Prune · · Score: 1

      I don't get it. What is this in reference to?

      --
      "Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason."
    6. Re:obligatory... by dotbenjamin · · Score: 1

      Your geek license has hereby been revoked. Watch a minimum of five of the Anderson-era seasons, take a full written exam, and you may be allowed to have your license reinstated.

      --
      Nothing like blowing your own trumpet.
    7. Re:obligatory... by WilliamSChips · · Score: 1

      Stargate SG-1. Look up the Goa'uld for more information.

      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
    8. Re:obligatory... by Prune · · Score: 1

      Oh. I don't like Stargate which is why I didn't recognize the reference.

      --
      "Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason."
  2. What Happens When They Get Loose? by SRA8 · · Score: 1

    And what happens when these snake robots get loose? Or jump into the toilet and get into our sewer system? Then what?

    1. Re:What Happens When They Get Loose? by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

      Or jump into the toilet and get into our sewer system? Then what?

      You go get a plunger, that's what.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  3. Robot-assisted surgery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I underwent robot-assisted surgery in 2003. A thoracic surgeon used Intuitive Surgical's daVinci robot to remove my thymus. The surgery was very successful. It was a minimally invasive procedure and the recovery was easy (compared to traditional open surgery).

    http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/

    Computer Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology
    http://cisstweb.cs.jhu.edu/

    Forbes article: Robo-docs
    http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2006/0904/100.ht ml

    1. Re:Robot-assisted surgery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Very cool. I was one of the programmers on the daVinci. Glad to know it works!

    2. Re:Robot-assisted surgery by Prune · · Score: 1

      So, like, do you miss your thymus?

      --
      "Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason."
  4. For centuries alcohol helped surgeons by NoSuchGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why not try alcohol?
    For centuries alcohol helped surgeons supress their tremble.

    --
    Grundgesetz * 23. Mai 1949 - 30. November 2007 - http://www.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/
    1. Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons by flyonthewall · · Score: 1

      Perfect cut!

                                        Wrong arm... :)

      --
      "The avalanche has already started. It's too late for the pebbles to vote." - Kosh
    2. Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons by elohim · · Score: 3, Interesting

      eye surgery is mentioned in the story, and i know a few ophthalmologists that take a drop of timolol (a beta blocker for treating high eye pressure) under their ongue before cataract surgery to suppress their tremor.

    3. Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      As well as drivers, pilots, supertanker captains, crane operators, and nuclear reactor operators. It truly is a miracle drug. And as another benefit, if you are also smoking a cigar you will look cool.

    4. Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons by delvsional · · Score: 1

      it is a federal offense to even HAVE alcohol in the control room at a nuclear power plant.

      --
      Oh Crap, I'm an optimist.....
    5. Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons by Prune · · Score: 1

      Studies show it is ineffective: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd= Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12375295&dopt=Abstrac t You may wish to notify these ophthamologists.

      --
      "Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason."
  5. OK Hollywood! by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 1

    You've got your marching orders! New summer blockbuster: Snakes in the OR!

    --
    That is all.
  6. How is this Different? by chazchaz101 · · Score: 1

    How is this "Snake like implement" different from what is used in arthroscopic surgery today?

  7. sounds like by FudRucker · · Score: 2, Insightful

    it is similar to the way i use snakes to un-clog the drain in my kitchen & bathrooms

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  8. Boy... by risk+one · · Score: 1

    My doctor told me that he was going to put his little snake down my throat when I was a kid, and he lost his license for it.

    I guess robotic surgery was a much bigger taboo back then. Times sure have changed...

  9. Hmm by Dirtside · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots"

    Like, on a plane?

    --
    "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
    1. Re:Hmm by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 2, Funny

      The Sequel:

      I have had it with these motherfucking robots on this motherfucking plane!

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  10. We have an emergency... by owlnation · · Score: 1

    ...call Dr Octopus!

  11. Robots in the OR: Nothing new by scottv67 · · Score: 3, Informative

    We broadcast a robotic prostatectomy via the Internet a few months back from our hospital in Waukesha. I got to see the robot before the surgery. Pretty cool piece of hardware.

    http://www.prohealthcare.org/WhatsNew.asp?PageID=W TN000035

    Waukesha Memorial recently performed its 100th surgery with the Da Vinci robot.

    1. Re:Robots in the OR: Nothing new by oohshiny · · Score: 1

      I hope they didn't use a snake robot for a prostatectomy...

  12. Lag by PaulB007 · · Score: 0

    I wonder what would happen if there is some lag from the camera to the display screen when they are operating. The picture freezes, the surgeon says "WTF" and wobbles the remote control and presses all the buttons. Seconds later the jugular vein is ripped to shreds and the patient dies. Surgeon to mal practice insurance agent: OMG, IT WAS LAG I SWEAR, I AM XPERT THESE FUCKIN SNAKES LAG, PLZ LET ME TRY AGAIN I PROMIZE IM GUD AT DIS!!!1!!11

  13. zerg by Lord+Omlette · · Score: 1

    I will believe in the healing power of technology if they invent an alternative to snaking a camera inside my goddamned urethra just because some quack thinks there might be a problem in that general region.

    --
    [o]_O
  14. What about Cigars and strippers? by spineboy · · Score: 1

    If that's a crime, well then arrest me!

    --
    ..........FULL STOP.
  15. Smart probes by mnmn · · Score: 1

    I sense smart rectal probes coming to a pharmaceutical shelf near you. Bluetooth enabled no less.

    Add a few virii infecting its programs and let the games begin.

    --
    "Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky