Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots

Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots 35

Posted by Zonk on Monday December 25, 2006 @02:22PM 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."

Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots

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obligatory... (Score:2, Funny)

by nih ( 411096 ) writes:

i'm sick and tired of these mutha fuckin snakes in this mutha fuckin stomach!
- Re:obligatory... (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by WilliamSChips ( 793741 ) writes: <`moc.liamg' `ta' `ytinifni.lluf'> on Monday December 25, 2006 @02:34PM (#17360826) Journal
  
  Personally, I wouldn't want a snake in my head...it could take over my body and start impersonating a god.
  
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by Prune ( 557140 ) writes:
    
    I don't get it. What is this in reference to?
    - Re: (Score:1)
      
      by dotbenjamin ( 1034650 ) writes:
      
      Your geek license has hereby been revoked.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.
    - Re: (Score:2)
      
      by WilliamSChips ( 793741 ) writes:
      
      Stargate SG-1. Look up the Goa'uld for more information.
      - Re: (Score:1)
        
        by Prune ( 557140 ) writes:
        
        Oh. I don't like Stargate which is why I didn't recognize the reference.
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by lightspawn ( 155347 ) writes:
  
  Oh come on... you could have tried harder.
  
  Something like "Snakes in a brain".
- Re:obligatory... (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by sokoban ( 142301 ) writes: on Monday December 25, 2006 @03:14PM (#17360966) Homepage
  
  That's it. I'm sick and tired of these motherfucking jokes about this motherfucking movie.
  
What Happens When They Get Loose? (Score:2)

by SRA8 ( 859587 ) writes:

And what happens when these snake robots get loose? Or jump into the toilet and get into our sewer system? Then what?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by ScrewMaster ( 602015 ) writes:
  
  Or jump into the toilet and get into our sewer system? Then what?
  
  You go get a plunger, that's what.
Robot-assisted surgery (Score:4, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday December 25, 2006 @02:42PM (#17360860)

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]

- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Prune ( 557140 ) writes:
  
  So, like, do you miss your thymus?
For centuries alcohol helped surgeons (Score:3, Funny)

by NoSuchGuy ( 308510 ) writes: <do-not-harvest-m ... dot@spa.mtrap.de> on Monday December 25, 2006 @02:44PM (#17360864) Journal

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

- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by flyonthewall ( 584734 ) writes:
  
  Perfect cut!
  
  Wrong arm... :)
- Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons (Score:4, Interesting)
  
  by elohim ( 512193 ) writes: on Monday December 25, 2006 @05:10PM (#17361408)
  
  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.
  
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by Prune ( 557140 ) writes:
    
    Studies show it is ineffective: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd= Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12375295&dopt=Abstrac t [nih.gov] You may wish to notify these ophthamologists.
- Re: (Score:1, Insightful)
  
  by Anonymous Coward writes:
  
  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.
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by delvsional ( 745684 ) writes:
    
    it is a federal offense to even HAVE alcohol in the control room at a nuclear power plant.
    - What about Cigars and strippers? (Score:2)
      
      by spineboy ( 22918 ) writes:
      
      If that's a crime, well then arrest me!
OK Hollywood! (Score:2)

by frank_adrian314159 ( 469671 ) writes:

You've got your marching orders! New summer blockbuster: Snakes in the OR!
How is this Different? (Score:1)

by chazchaz101 ( 871891 ) writes:

How is this "Snake like implement" different from what is used in arthroscopic surgery today?
sounds like (Score:2, Insightful)

by FudRucker ( 866063 ) writes:

it is similar to the way i use snakes to un-clog the drain in my kitchen & bathrooms
Boy... (Score:1)

by risk one ( 1013529 ) writes:

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...
Hmm (Score:4, Interesting)

by Dirtside ( 91468 ) writes: on Monday December 25, 2006 @04:48PM (#17361308) Journal

"Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots"

Like, on a plane?

- Re: (Score:3, Funny)
  
  by Jah-Wren Ryel ( 80510 ) writes:
  
  The Sequel:
  
  I have had it with these motherfucking robots on this motherfucking plane!
We have an emergency... (Score:2)

by owlnation ( 858981 ) writes:

...call Dr Octopus!
Robots in the OR: Nothing new (Score:3, Informative)

by scottv67 ( 731709 ) writes: on Monday December 25, 2006 @06:35PM (#17361670)

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 [prohealthcare.org]

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

- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by oohshiny ( 998054 ) writes:
  
  I hope they didn't use a snake robot for a prostatectomy...
zerg (Score:2)

by Lord Omlette ( 124579 ) writes:

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.
Smart probes (Score:2)

by mnmn ( 145599 ) writes:

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.

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Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots 35

Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots More Login

Snake-Robots To Assist Surgeons in Tight Spots

obligatory... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:obligatory... (Score:5, Funny)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2)

Re:obligatory... (Score:4, Funny)

What Happens When They Get Loose? (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Robot-assisted surgery (Score:4, Interesting)

Re: (Score:1)

For centuries alcohol helped surgeons (Score:3, Funny)

Re: (Score:1)

Re:For centuries alcohol helped surgeons (Score:4, Interesting)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:1, Insightful)

Re: (Score:1)

What about Cigars and strippers? (Score:2)

OK Hollywood! (Score:2)

How is this Different? (Score:1)

sounds like (Score:2, Insightful)

Boy... (Score:1)

Hmm (Score:4, Interesting)

Re: (Score:3, Funny)

We have an emergency... (Score:2)

Robots in the OR: Nothing new (Score:3, Informative)

Re: (Score:2)

zerg (Score:2)

Smart probes (Score:2)

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