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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."

10 of 35 comments (clear)

  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 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.
  2. 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

  3. 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 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.

  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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.