Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots

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."

Robot-assisted surgery

[Anonymous Coward]

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/ [intuitivesurgical.com]

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

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

Hmm

[Dirtside]

"Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots"

Like, on a plane?

Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons

[elohim]

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.