Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Cybram 001 simulator helps doctors practice brain surgery without risking lives (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/cybram-001-brain-surgery-simulator/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/cybram-001-brain-surgery-simulator/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/cybram-001-brain-surgery-simulator/#comments Cybram 001 simulator helps doctors practice brain surgery without risking lives (video)

Sometimes it's awesome to be a guinea pig; take for example, getting down and dirty with the Consumer Preview of Windows 8. When it comes to brain surgery, however, there are no happy little accidents -- and let's face it, Bob Ross would've been a horrible surgeon. Thankfully, a new invention out of Japan promises to keep surgeons from taking practice swings at your noggin. Known as the Cybram 001, it's said to properly simulate the flow and pressure of one's arterial system from the cerebrum to the groin, and should allow doctors to gain greater familiarity with inserting surgical instruments into these delicate spaces. As the entire model is transparent, it's ideal for both students and instructors to see what's being done, and because variables such as blood pressure and heart rate can be adjusted, it's a useful simulator for different scenarios in the operating room. Not all of us will grow up to be brain surgeons, but if you'd like a peek into the frontiers of the field, just hop the break.

Continue reading Cybram 001 simulator helps doctors practice brain surgery without risking lives (video)

Cybram 001 simulator helps doctors practice brain surgery without risking lives (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain surgeryBrainSurgerycybramcybram 001Cybram001fuyojapanmedicalmedicineSaitama Medical UniversitySaitamaMedicalUniversitysimulationsimulatorsurgeryvideoWed, 18 Apr 2012 21:32:00 EST<![CDATA[New high-precision eye surgery robot helps doctors stay sharp]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/new-high-precision-eye-surgery-robot-helps-doctors-stay-sharp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/new-high-precision-eye-surgery-robot-helps-doctors-stay-sharp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/new-high-precision-eye-surgery-robot-helps-doctors-stay-sharp/#comments A researcher at the Netherland's Eindhoven University of Technology has invented a new type of eye surgery robot designed to steady the ophthalmologist's hands and minimize error -- always a good thing when it comes to having needles and knives near your peepers. Kind of like an Igor to a mad scientist, the robot is considered a "slave" to its "master" doctor, who controls the automaton's arms using two joysticks. The doctor is still in charge of the cuts, but the technology makes sure the MD jabs that needle in at the exact same entry point each time without shaking to minimize ocular marring. Another notable feature is the robot's ability to switch between tools quickly, ensuring that if this whole doctor thing doesn't work out, it'll at least have a job at Hibachi waiting. Jump past the break to check out the full PR.

Continue reading New high-precision eye surgery robot helps doctors stay sharp

New high-precision eye surgery robot helps doctors stay sharp originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doctordoctorsEindhoveneyeeyesmedicalmedicineNetherlandsNetherlands University of TechnologyNetherlandsUniversityOfTechnologyrobotslavesurgeryThijs MeeninkThijsMeeninkTUeFri, 28 Oct 2011 23:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Shapeways serves up prêt-à-imprimer 3D bones, Lagerfeld stands by for full skeletal replacement]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/shapeways-serves-up-pret-a-imprimer-3d-bones-lagerfeld-stands-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/shapeways-serves-up-pret-a-imprimer-3d-bones-lagerfeld-stands-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/shapeways-serves-up-pret-a-imprimer-3d-bones-lagerfeld-stands-b/#comments 3D printed chocolates? Sure, sounds innocuous enough. But made-to-order 3D printed bones? Now, that's just morbid. For the surgical team at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children, however, the tech's come in handy as a budget-priced, pre-operative planning tool. Mark Frame, an orthopedic surgical trainee at RHSC, first came up with the idea to create the osteo-facsimiles after a costly university-made replica, commissioned for a procedure, failed to meet necessary proportion and size requirements. After undertaking a bit of self-assigned internet research, Frame sorted out a method to create renders of a patient's fractured forearm using CT scans processed via the open source OsiriX software. These were then passed through a separate MeshLab application to tidy up any artifacting, and finally exported in 3D-compatible .stl format. The resulting files were sent to Shapeways for printing, with the white plastic bone copies delivered just seven days later for £77. The hospital's been so pleased with the inexpensive outcome, that it's already begun prep work on a hip replacement surgery using a replicated pelvis -- and, no, they didn't specify if the patient was a fashion victim.

Shapeways serves up prêt-à-imprimer 3D bones, Lagerfeld stands by for full skeletal replacement originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D printed bones3D printer3D printing3dPrintedBones3dPrinter3dPrintingbonesGlasgowMark FrameMarkFrameMeshLaborthopedicsOsiriXRoyal Hospital for Sick ChildrenRoyalHospitalForSickChildrenScotlandShapewayssurgerySat, 17 Sep 2011 12:52:00 EST<![CDATA[First synthetic windpipe transplant paves way for post-op, immunosuppresive drug-free future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/first-synthetic-organ-transplant-paves-way-for-post-op-immunosu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/first-synthetic-organ-transplant-paves-way-for-post-op-immunosu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/first-synthetic-organ-transplant-paves-way-for-post-op-immunosu/#comments Science can do some wonderful, heartstring-tugging things. Take this for example: surgeons have triumphantly performed the first ever synthetic organ transplant. Cancer-stricken Andemariam Teklesenbet Beyene was the grateful recipient of this life-saving surgical breakthrough, performed by Prof. Paolo Macchiarini at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. The revolutionary operation comes with a zero rejection rate and requires no donor -- a huge relief for those stuck on lengthy waiting lists. Using a 3D scan of Beyene's windpipe, scientists at University College London crafted a highly-porous nanocomposite tracheal scaffold replica and covered it in stem cells harvested from his bone marrow. Within two days, the stem cells had worked their magic, weaving a brand new transplantable facsimile that is "indistinguishable from a normal healthy one." And since the procedure uses no foreign-born tissues, patients can look forward to a full-recovery sans mandatory immunosuppressive drugs, a major plus for post-op quality of life. With the surgery a success, Prof. Macchiarini's moving on to the next patient in need -- this time, a nine-month-old Korean baby with a malformed trachea. Doctors -- saving lives and warming hearts. Press release of the medically wondrous kind after the break.

Continue reading First synthetic windpipe transplant paves way for post-op, immunosuppresive drug-free future

First synthetic windpipe transplant paves way for post-op, immunosuppresive drug-free future originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial windpipeArtificialWindpipefirst synthetic organ transplantFirstSyntheticOrganTransplantKarolinska University HospitalKarolinskaUniversityHospitallife-savingorgan transplantorgan transplantsOrganTransplantOrganTransplantsProfessor Paolo MacchiariniProfessorPaoloMacchiarinisurgeryUniversity College LondonUniversityCollegeLondonwindpipeWed, 13 Jul 2011 01:54:00 EST<![CDATA[da Vinci Robot pwns Operation, deems our childhoods forlorn (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/da-vinci-robot-pwns-operation-deems-our-childhoods-forlorn-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/da-vinci-robot-pwns-operation-deems-our-childhoods-forlorn-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/da-vinci-robot-pwns-operation-deems-our-childhoods-forlorn-vid/#comments What happens when a robot with immaculate dexterity comes to grips with a notorious board game from our childhood? Just ask Johns Hopkins University students, who successfully removed the wish bone from an Operation board using the da Vinci Robot. If you're familiar with the game, you'll know how incredibly difficult it was to prevent that ear-piercing noise from occurring-- even with our tiny fingers. Of course, we should have expected that a robot -- especially one capable of folding a tiny paper airplane -- would be able to accomplish this feat with such ease. Be sure to peep the pseudo-surgery in video form below the break.

Continue reading da Vinci Robot pwns Operation, deems our childhoods forlorn (video)

da Vinci Robot pwns Operation, deems our childhoods forlorn (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board gameBoardGameda vincida vinci robotDaVinciDaVinciRobotdexterityjohns hopkinsjohns hopkins universityJohnsHopkinsJohnsHopkinsUniversityoperationoperation gameOperationGamerobotroboticsrobotssurgerysurgical robotSurgicalRobotuniversityvideoWed, 06 Apr 2011 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect keeps surgeons on task, Nintendo 3DS might assist optometrists with diagnoses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/kinect-keeps-surgeons-on-task-nintendo-3ds-might-assist-optomet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/kinect-keeps-surgeons-on-task-nintendo-3ds-might-assist-optomet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/kinect-keeps-surgeons-on-task-nintendo-3ds-might-assist-optomet/#comments
The latest generation of gaming gadgets do some nifty tricks, and one of the niftiest they might perform is assisting the realm of medicine. Microsoft's Kinect sounded like a candidate for surgery, and this month real-life surgeons have actually put it to use -- Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Canada rigged the Xbox 360 depth camera to its medical imaging computer. Now, doctors don't have to scrub out to manipulate an MRI scan, or even appoint a peon to the task -- rather, they simply raise their bloodied glove, and dive into the digital imagery with a wave of a dextrous hand.

Meanwhile, the American Optometric Association has expanded upon its initial praise of Nintendo's 3DS, saying the autostereoscopic 3D handheld "could be a godsend for identifying kids under 6 who need vision therapy." Though Nintendo's warning labels had originally incited a bit of fear among parents, the organization says that kids who can't experience the 3DS to its full potential may have amblyopia (or other vision disorders) that can be more easily treated the earlier it's caught, though one doctor interviewed by the Associated Press contends that kids with amblyopia may not know what they're missing to begin with -- so don't necessarily expect a panacea, folks.

Kinect keeps surgeons on task, Nintendo 3DS might assist optometrists with diagnoses originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3DSAmerian Optometric AssociationAmerianOptometricAssociationautostereoscopicdoctoreyesightgaminghackhackshealthhospitalhospitalsKinectmedicalmedicineMicrosoftmodmodsmotion capturemotion sensingmotion trackingMotionCaptureMotionSensingMotionTrackingNintendoNintendo 3DSNintendo3dsoptometristoptometristsoptometrysightstereoscopic 3DStereoscopic3dSunnybrookSunnybrook HospitalSunnybrookHospitalsurgeonsurgeryMon, 21 Mar 2011 07:34:00 EST<![CDATA[NYU professor unsurprisingly removes camera from the back of his head, citing pain and the malaise of lifecasting]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/nyu-professor-unsurprisingly-removes-camera-from-the-back-of-his/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/nyu-professor-unsurprisingly-removes-camera-from-the-back-of-his/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/nyu-professor-unsurprisingly-removes-camera-from-the-back-of-his/#comments Well, this one is not really a surprise. NYU Professor / artist Wafaa Bilal had a removable camera installed into the back of his head via a surgically implanted titanium plate to assist him with his lifecasting. Turns out that the camera caused a decent amount of pain as his body rejected the foreign object -- again, no big surprise there. Bilal, however, seems pretty unfazed, and vows to continue on with the project which he says is a "comment on the inaccessibility of time, and the inability to capture memory." Whatever, we suspect he just wanted to be known as the guy who had a camera implanted in the back of his head, and that's alright by us.

[Photo by Brad Farwell]

NYU professor unsurprisingly removes camera from the back of his head, citing pain and the malaise of lifecasting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rdiartcameraslifecastingnyusurgerysurgical implantsSurgicalImplantsvideovideo camerasVideoCamerasWafaa BilalWafaaBilalThu, 10 Feb 2011 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[University of Washington students hack Kinect to aid in robotic surgery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/20/university-of-washington-students-hack-kinect-to-aid-in-robotic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/20/university-of-washington-students-hack-kinect-to-aid-in-robotic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/20/university-of-washington-students-hack-kinect-to-aid-in-robotic/#commentsWe're sure that a time will come when we're slightly less amazed by Kinect hacks but, right now, we're still just seeing one more impressive than the last -- and we're certainly OK with that. This latest comes to us from a group of students at the University of Washington, who had the bright idea to pair Microsoft's device with some of the robotic surgery projects currently being developed by the university's BioRobotics Lab. That combo isn't quite the sentient, Kinect-enhanced robo-surgeon you may have feared, though. The students are actually using Kinect to provide force-feedback to the actual, human surgeons controlling the robotic equipment -- something that would have been a $50,000 proposition without Kinect. As you might expect, however, the Kinect-based system isn't quite ready to be used for actual surgery as it is -- while it gets the job done as a proof of concept, the students note that the sensors will need to be scaled down, and the resolution improved in order to be deemed suitable for surgical use.

University of Washington students hack Kinect to aid in robotic surgery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackkinectkinect hackKinectHackmedicalrobotrobot surgeryrobotic surgeryRoboticSurgeryRobotSurgerysurgeryuniversity of washingtonUniversityOfWashingtonuwThu, 20 Jan 2011 06:48:00 EST<![CDATA[LSUHSC hires surgical robot to remove salivary stone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/lsuhsc-hires-surgical-robot-to-remove-salivary-stone/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/lsuhsc-hires-surgical-robot-to-remove-salivary-stone/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/lsuhsc-hires-surgical-robot-to-remove-salivary-stone/#commentsLouisiana State University's Health Sciences Center has just enlisted the support of a surgical robot "guided by a miniature salivary endoscope" in order to yank a 20mm salivary stone and mend the salivary duct of a 31-year-old patient. A bit gruesome to consider, sure, but it's a whole lot less invasive than removing entire salivary glands as we've had to do in the past. Purportedly, the new procedure saves the salivary gland, cuts down on blood loss, reduces scarring and shortens the accompanying hospital stay. While inside, the robot can also provide high-definition, 3D images, but there doesn't seem to be any public word on when this here doodad will be ready for use outside of a lab. We're guessing it'll get loads of testing done down in Baton Rouge, though -- this Les Miles fellow seems to be giving fans heart attacks, kidney stones and all sorts of other stress-related conditions.

LSUHSC hires surgical robot to remove salivary stone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>endoscopehealthhospitalLSUHSCmedicalmedical robotMedicalRobotmedicinerobotsurgerysurgicalsurgical robotSurgicalRobotuniversityMon, 22 Nov 2010 10:46:00 EST<![CDATA[First all-robot surgery performed at McGill University]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/first-all-robot-surgery-performed-at-mcgill-university/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/first-all-robot-surgery-performed-at-mcgill-university/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/first-all-robot-surgery-performed-at-mcgill-university/#comments
A team of surgeons at McGill University, including the da Vinci robo-surgeon and a robot anesthesiologist named, of all things, McSleepy, recently removed some dude's prostate during what is being billed as the world's first all-robotic surgery. The device transmits hi-def 3D images to a nearby workstation, where it is controlled by surgeons "with a precision that cannot be provided by humans alone," according to MUHC urologist-in-chief Dr. A. Aprikian. Of course, the robots are being kept on a tight leash by their human operators, with McGill's Dr. Thomas Hemmerling pointing out that "[r]obots will not replace doctors but help them to perform to the highest standards." Just tell that to all the other medical robots we've seen in this space, eh, doc? We've heard they have plans. Bad plans.

Continue reading First all-robot surgery performed at McGill University

First all-robot surgery performed at McGill University originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A. AprikianA.Aprikiananesthesiaanesthesiologistda vincida vinci siDaVinciDaVinciSiintuitive surgicalIntuitiveSurgicalinvasiveMcGill UniversityMcgillUniversitymcsleepyminimally invasiveMinimallyInvasiverobotrobotic surveryRoboticSurverysurgeonsurgeryThomas HemmerlingThomasHemmerlingThu, 21 Oct 2010 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Sofie surgical robot gives haptic feedback for a more humane touch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/sofie-surgical-robot-gives-haptic-feedback-for-a-more/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/sofie-surgical-robot-gives-haptic-feedback-for-a-more/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/sofie-surgical-robot-gives-haptic-feedback-for-a-more/#comments
Surgical procedures assisted by robots are nothing new -- they can be more precise and less invasive -- and now it looks like a new upgrade could make them even better. The main drawback of a surgical robot is that the human surgeon performing the operation gets no tactile feedback, but that's not the case with Sofie. Sofie, a joystick controlled robot gives haptic feedback to the surgeon by adjusting the resistance the controls give to indicate how much pressure is being exerted, surely a welcome addition to bots of this kind. This robot is also more compact than many earlier bots of this kind, and its creators are now looking to bring it into production, with a goal of it coming to the market in about five years.

Sofie surgical robot gives haptic feedback for a more humane touch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doctorsmedicalmedicinerobotrobotssurgerysurgicalthe futureTheFutureMon, 11 Oct 2010 23:13:00 EST<![CDATA[First full-face transplant completed in France: tear ducts, eyelids, and all]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/first-full-face-transplant-completed-in-france-tear-ducts-eyel/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/first-full-face-transplant-completed-in-france-tear-ducts-eyel/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/first-full-face-transplant-completed-in-france-tear-ducts-eyel/#comments
While the idea of transplanting an entire face from a corpse -- including the eyelids, tear ducts, and mouth -- might seem, well, gross, you probably don't suffer from a face deforming genetic disorder. For the 35-year-old patient "Jerome," it's a technical miracle. The successful operation, carried out by Laurent Lantieri, is a claimed world's first and was completed just a few weeks ago at the Creteil Henri-Mondor hospital outside of Paris. According to local newspaper reports, the patient, who had been waiting two years for the surgery, gave an enthusiastic "thumbs up" when he first saw his new face in the mirror. Naturally, the operation also reconnects nerves and blood vessels using a microscope -- in fact, the patient's beard has even started to grow in. God complex, deserved, Dr. Lantieri.

P.S. That image above is not from the surgery. We said it was performed France, not Brazil.

First full-face transplant completed in France: tear ducts, eyelids, and all originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Creteil Henri-MondorCreteilHenri-mondorfaceface transplantFaceTransplantfranceLaurent LantieriLaurentLantierimedicalparissurgerytransplantThu, 08 Jul 2010 06:52:00 EST<![CDATA[iPad used to assist surgery in Flash-free Japanese OR]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/ipad-used-to-assist-surgery-in-flash-free-japanese-or/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/ipad-used-to-assist-surgery-in-flash-free-japanese-or/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/ipad-used-to-assist-surgery-in-flash-free-japanese-or/#comments
At least one surgeon in Japan is using an iPad in the operating theater (a term we learned from M*A*S*H). It's unclear to us whether it's attached to an endoscope, he's looking at reference photos, or even if the device is serving any use at all other than attracting TV coverage, but it sure looks like the real thing -- he's pinching to zoom through latex gloves and everything! The next obvious question is, of course: is there an app for that operation? Video after the break.

[Thanks, iNicc0lo]

Continue reading iPad used to assist surgery in Flash-free Japanese OR

iPad used to assist surgery in Flash-free Japanese OR originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleipadjapanmedicineoperating roomOperatingRoomsurgeryvideoThu, 03 Jun 2010 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtobot scanner performs 'virtual autopsies,' no body-slicing necessary (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/virtobot-scanner-performs-virtual-autopsies-no-body-slicing-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/virtobot-scanner-performs-virtual-autopsies-no-body-slicing-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/virtobot-scanner-performs-virtual-autopsies-no-body-slicing-n/#comments Grossed out easily? If so, we suggest you hand this article off to someone more calloused while you read all about our recent Windows Phone 7 Series discoveries. For those of you still here, the Virtobot is one of the more ominous robots we've seen; used currently at the University of Bern's Institute of Forensic Medicine, the creature is capable of performing "virtual autopsies." In other words, corpses can be slid within the 3D scanner for investigation, all without ever cracking open the skull or slicing the cold, pearly skin. The goal here is to provide investigators with information on deaths even years after they happen, possibly after new evidence is dug up. It's hard to say what this means for you here on this Earth, but you can rest assured that 187 you were pondering might be a wee bit harder to get away with now. Video after the break, if you're dark enough to handle it.

Continue reading Virtobot scanner performs 'virtual autopsies,' no body-slicing necessary (video)

Virtobot scanner performs 'virtual autopsies,' no body-slicing necessary (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autopsiesautopsyCo-Mect scanCtScanforensic robotForensicRobothealthmedicalmedicineresearchrobotrobotssurgeryuniversityUniversity of BernUniversityOfBernVirtobotMon, 22 Mar 2010 05:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Robotic Surgical Simulator lets doctors sharpen their skills by operating on polygons]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/robotic-surgical-simulator-lets-doctors-sharpen-their-skills-by/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/robotic-surgical-simulator-lets-doctors-sharpen-their-skills-by/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/robotic-surgical-simulator-lets-doctors-sharpen-their-skills-by/#commentsRobotic Surgical Simulator lets doctors sharpen their skills by operating on polygons These days you wouldn't jump behind the controls of a real plane without logging a few hours on the simulator, and so we're glad to hear that doctors no longer have to grab the controls of a da Vinci surgical robot without performing some virtual surgeries first. The Center for Robotic Surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the University of Buffalo School of Engineering have collaborated to create RoSS, the Robotic Surgical Simulator. Unlike our Ross, who works odd hours and covers fuel cell unveils with innate skill, this RoSS allows doctors to slice and dice virtual patients without worrying about any messy cleanups -- or messy lawsuits. We're guessing it'll be awhile before consumer versions hit the market, but just in case we've gone ahead and put our pre-orders in for the prostate expansion to Microsoft Cutting Sim 2014[TM].

Robotic Surgical Simulator lets doctors sharpen their skills by operating on polygons originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buffalocenter for robotic surgerycenter for robotic surgery at roswell park cancer instituteCenterForRoboticSurgeryCenterForRoboticSurgeryAtRoswellParkCancerInstituteda vincida vinci surgery robotDaVinciDaVinciSurgeryRobotrobotic surgery simulatorRoboticSurgerySimulatorrossroswell park cancer instituteRoswellParkCancerInstitutesimsimulatorsurgeryuniversity of buffalouniversity of buffalo school of engineeringUniversityOfBuffaloUniversityOfBuffaloSchoolOfEngineeringFri, 26 Feb 2010 09:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers aim to give surgeons 3D maps, directions of human body]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/researchers-aim-to-give-surgeons-3d-maps-directions-of-human-bo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/researchers-aim-to-give-surgeons-3d-maps-directions-of-human-bo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/researchers-aim-to-give-surgeons-3d-maps-directions-of-human-bo/#comments While a GPS-style "navigation system" for surgeons may not seem like the best idea to anyone that's ever been led astray by their dash-mounted co-pilot, it apparently seemed like a good enough idea for a group of researchers at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. While they do stretch the metaphor a bit, the group's TLEMsafe system does provide surgeons with a complete 3D map of the lower body, which can actually be personalized for each individual patient, giving surgeons a reference and means to practice before any actual surgery takes place -- and, yes, even an "automated navigation system" during surgery. Coincidentally, some researchers from the University of Colorado have also just announced that they've developed a similar modeling system that would give surgeons 3D views of arteries and let them see any blockages up close. It's even already been tested on patients, while the University of Twente says its system will be ready for clinical trials in about four years' time.

Researchers aim to give surgeons 3D maps, directions of human body originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d model3d modeling3dModel3dModelingmedicalsurgeonssurgeronsurgeryTLEMsafeuniversity fo twenteuniversity of coloradoUniversityFoTwenteUniversityOfColoradoThu, 28 Jan 2010 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[New robotic system could let surgeons operate on a beating heart]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/new-robotic-system-could-let-surgeons-operate-on-a-beating-heart/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/new-robotic-system-could-let-surgeons-operate-on-a-beating-heart/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/new-robotic-system-could-let-surgeons-operate-on-a-beating-heart/#commentsIt may not have been put into practice just yet, but it looks like a new robotic-assisted system could one day let surgeons use a surgical robot (like Da Vinci system pictured at left) to operate on a beating human heart. That impressive development comes courtesy of a group of researchers at France's Montpellier Laboratory of Informatics, Robotics, and Microelectronics, and centers on a new 3D modeling system that can track the motion of the heart's surface as it beats. It can even apparently adjust for things like movement of the patient's chest wall during breathing, and predict the movements in a single step (unlike previous attempts that resulted in a delay). When paired with a robotic arm, the system would effectively let surgeons operate on a heart as if it were completely still. In addition to being generally amazing, the system could also potentially open up a number of new possibilities for heart surgery, not the least of which is the ability to operate on patients for whom the risks of surgery have previously outweighed the benefits.

New robotic system could let surgeons operate on a beating heart originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>and Microelectrfrancemedicalmedical robotmedical roboticsMedicalRobotMedicalRoboticsMontpellier LaboratoryMontpellier Laboratory of InformaticsMontpellierLaboratoryMontpellierLaboratoryOfInformaticsrobotic surgeryRoboticsRoboticSurgerysurgeryFri, 11 Dec 2009 21:42:00 EST<![CDATA[British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/british-surgeons-using-radiation-beams-to-halt-macular-degenerat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/british-surgeons-using-radiation-beams-to-halt-macular-degenerat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/british-surgeons-using-radiation-beams-to-halt-macular-degenerat/#commentsWe've seen more eyesight restoration efforts than we could easily count, but rather than tooting their horn about some theoretical discovery, boffins at Kings College Hospital in London are actually putting their hard work to use on real, live human brings. The new process, which goes by the name brachytherapy, is a one-off treatment for macular degeneration. In essence, surgeons carefully light up a beam of radiation within the eye for just over three minutes, which kills harmful cells without damaging anything else. A trial is currently underway in order to restore eyesight in some 363 patients, and everything thus far leads us to believe that the process is both safe and effective. As for costs? The procedure currently runs £6,000 ($9,889), but that's still not awful when you consider that existing treatments involving injections run £800 per month. Hop past the break for a video report.

Continue reading British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration

British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindblindnessbrachytherapybritisheyeeyesighthealthinternationallasermacular degenerationMacularDegenerationmedicalocularradiationsciencescientistscientistssightsurgeonsurgerytreatmentukMon, 23 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot Hall of Fame expands to include Da Vinci, Terminator, Roomba]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/11/robot-hall-of-fame-expands-to-include-da-vinci-terminator-room/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/11/robot-hall-of-fame-expands-to-include-da-vinci-terminator-room/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/11/robot-hall-of-fame-expands-to-include-da-vinci-terminator-room/#comments
Forget those "sporting" Halls of Fame -- the real HOF is right here. Since 2003, the Robot Hall of Fame has been honoring robots and creators at an exhibit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now we're seeing the latest handful of noteworthy creatures take their rightful place in history. For those unaware, the Robot HOF is maintained by Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Science Center, and an international jury of researchers, writers, and designers has just selected five new bots to join the cast: Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the T-800 Terminator (yes, that Terminator), the Da Vinci surgical system, iRobot's Roomba and 'Huey, Dewey, and Louie' from the 1972 sci-fi flick Silent Running. Could you have imagined a more fitting five? If so, sound off below!

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Robot Hall of Fame expands to include Da Vinci, Terminator, Roomba originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 May 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonUniversityCMUDa VinciDaVincihall of fameHallOfFameIrobotmarsmars roverMarsRovermedicalOpportunityrobotRobot Hall of FameRobotHallOfFamerobotsroombaSpiritsurgerysurgicalsurgical robotSurgicalRobotT-800T-800 TerminatorT-800TerminatorTerminatorMon, 11 May 2009 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: da Vinci Si robotic system wants to be your surgeon ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/07/video-da-vinci-si-robotic-system-wants-to-be-your-surgeon/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/07/video-da-vinci-si-robotic-system-wants-to-be-your-surgeon/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/07/video-da-vinci-si-robotic-system-wants-to-be-your-surgeon/#comments Oh boy, from the looks of that picture the only perquisites for using the updated da Vinci Si surgical system are video game skills, a preference for interacting with the physical world on a high-def display, and an abnormal interest in robots. Sound like anyone you know? Intuitive Surgical's latest robotic system features two separate HD optical channels that the manufacturer claims will give "highly accurate depth perception" when merged. The surgeon console features touchpad control of the video, audio, and system settings while providing "precise, dexterous control" of a an extensive array of surgical tools held by the robotic flanges. Perfect for all your minimally invasive, WebMD-inspired home surgery needs when not performing transplants at county. Check the video after the break -- amazing is an understatement.

[Via MedGadget]

Continue reading Video: da Vinci Si robotic system wants to be your surgeon

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Video: da Vinci Si robotic system wants to be your surgeon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>da vincida vinci siDaVinciDaVinciSiintuitive surgicalIntuitiveSurgicalinvasiveminimally invasiveMinimallyInvasiverobotrobotic surveryRoboticSurverysurgeryTue, 07 Apr 2009 05:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Eizo debuts 56-inch 4k x 2k RadiForce LS560W LCD monitor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/eizo-debuts-56-inch-4k-x-2k-radiforce-ls560w-lcd-monitor/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/eizo-debuts-56-inch-4k-x-2k-radiforce-ls560w-lcd-monitor/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/eizo-debuts-56-inch-4k-x-2k-radiforce-ls560w-lcd-monitor/#comments
Eizo's known for doling out less-than-affordable LCD monitors, but this one just takes the crown (for now). Slated to dazzle in operating rooms everywhere this July, the RadiForce LS560W is a 56-inch behemoth of an LCD that boasts a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 (or darn close to native 4k x 2k). We're also told that the panel features a 176-degree field of view, a 1,200:1 contrast ratio and 450 nits of brightness. And to think -- we were beginning to wonder if all that 4k surgery footage would ever find a dedicated screen to run on.

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Eizo debuts 56-inch 4k x 2k RadiForce LS560W LCD monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4k4k x 2k4kX2keizoeizo nanaoEizoNanaohdtvhealthhospitallcdlcd monitorLcdMonitorLS560Wmedicalmonitoroperating roomOperatingRoomoperationORRadiForceRadiForce LS560WRadiforceLs560wsurgeonsurgeryThu, 02 Apr 2009 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Eizo debuts 56-inch 4k x 2k RadiForce LS560W LCD monitor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/eizo-debuts-56-inch-4k-x-2k-radiforce-ls560w-lcd-monitor/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/eizo-debuts-56-inch-4k-x-2k-radiforce-ls560w-lcd-monitor/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/eizo-debuts-56-inch-4k-x-2k-radiforce-ls560w-lcd-monitor/#comments
Eizo's known for doling out less-than-affordable LCD monitors, but this one just takes the crown (for now). Slated to dazzle in operating rooms everywhere this July, the RadiForce LS560W is a 56-inch behemoth of an LCD that boasts a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 (or darn close to native 4k x 2k). We're also told that the panel features a 176-degree field of view, a 1,200:1 contrast ratio and 450 nits of brightness. And to think -- we were beginning to wonder if all that 4k surgery footage would ever find a dedicated screen to run on.

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Eizo debuts 56-inch 4k x 2k RadiForce LS560W LCD monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4k4k x 2k4kX2keizoeizo nanaoEizoNanaohdhealthhospitallcdlcd monitorLcdMonitorLS560Wmedicalmonitoroperating roomOperatingRoomoperationORothersRadiForceRadiForce LS560WRadiforceLs560wsurgeonsurgeryThu, 02 Apr 2009 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Waseda University's heartbeat compensation robot be stills our hearts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/27/waseda-universitys-heartbeat-compensation-robot-be-stills-our-h/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/27/waseda-universitys-heartbeat-compensation-robot-be-stills-our-h/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/27/waseda-universitys-heartbeat-compensation-robot-be-stills-our-h/#comments
Look closely. No, closer. See that slab of pink meat in the middle of Waseda University's surgical robot? That's a heart... now imagine it's your heart. Don't worry, if you ever do pit flesh-to-servo against this device, it'll likely be saving your life during a coronary bypass. After making a small incision, the robot compensates for the natural shake and movement of the organ caused by heartbeats so that surgery can proceed as if the organ is still. That little trick could enable minimally invasive, endoscopic heart surgeries in the future -- no need to crack open the chest cavity. Amazing stuff. See a close-up after the break. You: it's what's for dinner.

Continue reading Waseda University's heartbeat compensation robot be stills our hearts

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Waseda University's heartbeat compensation robot be stills our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heartmedicalprototyperobotsurgerywaseda universityWasedaUniversityFri, 27 Mar 2009 04:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Laser-bonded healing could replace needle and thread]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/15/laser-bonded-healing-could-replace-needle-and-thread/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/15/laser-bonded-healing-could-replace-needle-and-thread/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/15/laser-bonded-healing-could-replace-needle-and-thread/#comments
It sounds more like something you'd see in X-Men than on an actual operating table in real life, but a team at Massachusetts General Hospital has developed a way to heal surgical incisions with laser light. Christened laser-bonded healing, the methodology has been studied for years, but up until now, scientists have found it impossible to find the perfect balance of heat required to coax tissue into healing itself back together. Irene Kochevar described the process as "nano suturing," as diminutive collagen fibers are woven together in a way that the old-fashioned needle-and-thread method simply can't match. The benefits, as you can likely imagine, are numerous: less scarring, faster recovery, the potential for fewer infections and bragging rights that you were struck with lasers and survived. Still, the procedure is far from becoming commonplace in ORs, given that the dermatological procedure hasn't even been submitted to the FDA yet. 'Til then, it's up to you and Wolverine to figure things out.

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Laser-bonded healing could replace needle and thread originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slowly but surely, AMIMON is establishing itself as a serious player in the wireless HD space. Right before our eyes, the outfit has announced that it's playing a major role in the world's first HD wireless display designed specifically for use in the operating room. Stryker Endoscopy's WiSe HDTV is embedded with AMIMON's WHDI technology, though few details beyond that are being disclosed. We've no idea if this is just the beginning of AMIMON's domination of the OR, but it's certainly a good start. Here's hoping we see some similar announcements in the consumer space at CES -- it's about time some of these wireless HD doodads stopped looking pretty and started shipping out.

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Stryker Endoscopy intros world's first wireless HD surgical display originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMIMONdisplayhdhealthmedicalStryker EndoscopyStrykerEndoscopysurgerysurgical displaySurgicalDisplayWHDIwireless HDwireless HDMIWirelessHdWirelessHdmiWiSE HDTVWiseHdtvWed, 31 Dec 2008 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[British surgeon saves life by obeying SMS instructions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/10/british-surgeon-saves-life-by-obeying-sms-instructions/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/10/british-surgeon-saves-life-by-obeying-sms-instructions/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/10/british-surgeon-saves-life-by-obeying-sms-instructions/#commentsNot that we haven't seen text messaging save a life before, but this situation was clearly more intense than anything we've heard of in the past. British vascular surgeon David Nott was volunteering in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when faced with a 16-year-old boy that had "his left arm ripped off." With the knowledge that it was "badly infected and gangrenous," he relied on SMS instructions from a colleague in England in order to perform a forequarter amputation. Out of respect for your stomach, we'll spare you the details (believe us, plenty are in the read link), but the end result was that the boy was able to survive thanks to the text-based how-to guide. Who says messaging has no practical purpose?

[Via textually]

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British surgeon saves life by obeying SMS instructions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>africabritishcongodoctordr congoDrCongoglobalhealthmedicalmessagingmobilesmssurgerytexttext messagestext messagingtextingTextMessagesTextMessagingWed, 10 Dec 2008 00:11:00 EST<![CDATA[RED / Sony wares used during first 4K recording of surgery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/04/red-sony-wares-used-during-first-4k-recording-of-surgery/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/04/red-sony-wares-used-during-first-4k-recording-of-surgery/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/04/red-sony-wares-used-during-first-4k-recording-of-surgery/#commentsAnd to think, just over a year ago we all thought 1080p surgery was the future. Recently, Steven F. Palter, MD of Gold Coast IVF in Syosset, NY teamed with RED and Sony in order to "film and project a surgery and microscopic images in 4K, which represents its first uses in medicine and biology." During the digital cinema presentation, the 1,600+ surgeons in attendance were able to view the procedure in nauseating detail, giving the crowd the ability to almost be right there inside the operating room from afar. Additionally, the session included a projection of the "largest high-definition 3D surgical images ever," which we can only imagine led to at least a few dozen fainting episodes.

[Image courtesy of Surgery Encyclopedia]

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RED / Sony wares used during first 4K recording of surgery originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4khdhd SurgeryHdSurgeryhealthmedicalother hardwareotherhardwareothersredsonySurgeryTue, 04 Nov 2008 10:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony brings HD to the operating theater]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/25/sony-brings-hd-to-the-operating-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/25/sony-brings-hd-to-the-operating-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/25/sony-brings-hd-to-the-operating-theater/#commentsSony Medical logoWe know several doctors who come home to relax in front of some HD material, and Sony (no stranger to the medical field) has a slew of new and upgraded products to make sure that they get the same high-fidelity experience at work. The ImageCore HD Digital Capture System can put both still and video images at full 1920x1080 pixel resolution onto the hospital network for anyone to view. And wouldn't you know, Sony has a new 32-inch LMD-3250 HD LCD monitor to help out with just that. Of course, collaboration is a big deal among medical specialists, and HD videoconferencing between five sites can be done with the PCS-XG80; there's even the UP-55MD/HD video printer so everyone can get a hardcopy. Sure, there are other players in the HD medical space, but this kind of product range is pretty impressive.

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Sony brings HD to the operating theater originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bzmd1000hdimagecore hdImagecoreHdlcdlmd-3250medicalother hardwareotherhardwarepcs-xg80printersonysurgeryup-55mdhdvideoconferenceSat, 25 Oct 2008 08:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Bionic lens to debut in the next half-decade]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/bionic-lens-to-debut-in-the-next-half-decade/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/bionic-lens-to-debut-in-the-next-half-decade/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/bionic-lens-to-debut-in-the-next-half-decade/#comments
Professor James Wolffsohn from Aston University in the United Kingdom imagines that within the next decade, the cure to near- and farsightedness will not only exist, but will actually be within reach. While the underlying idea of replacing biological lenses with minty-fresh artificial ones isn't necessarily new (think cataract surgery), Wolffsohn's efforts will allow patients to focus both near and far, instead of just plain old, boring far. While the details on how the lenses work are a little scant (read non-existent), apparently eye muscles squeezing the "ultra-flexible" devices allow the actual focusing to occur. The professor has been working with opthology companies to commercialize the specs, and envisions the procedure costing less than £1,000 within the next five to ten years. Sounds good to us, because fancy new lenses or not, as people who stare at computer screens all day, the odds of us going under the laser at some point are a tad on the high side.

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Bionic lens to debut in the next half-decade originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aston UniversityAstonUniversitybionicbionic eyeBionicEyeeyesurgeryFri, 12 Sep 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Swallowable microgrippers could make surgery more / less invasive]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/01/swallowable-microgrippers-could-make-surgery-more-less-invasiv/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/01/swallowable-microgrippers-could-make-surgery-more-less-invasiv/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/01/swallowable-microgrippers-could-make-surgery-more-less-invasiv/#commentsWhile the scientists that developed these newfangled ingestible microgrippers call them minimally invasive, we're not so sure that swallowing minuscule devices that can cut and grab tissue when chemically activated fits our definition of keyhole surgery. Nevertheless, tiny "handlike grippers" are currently being shown off to highly intelligent professionals in the medical realm, and if proven feasible, they could one day be used to perform biopsies from within. More specifically, the devices could reportedly "react to the biochemicals released by infected tissue by closing around the tissue, so that pieces can be removed for analysis." Yeah, we reckon this is a bit less painful than actually going under the knife, but the mere thought of having blade-wielding microorganisms floating around our innards spooks us just a wee bit. Go on, fling your "pansies!" this way -- we can take it.

[Via medGadget]

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Swallowable microgrippers could make surgery more / less invasive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gripperhealthhospitalmedicalmicrogrippernanotechnologysurgeryuniversityMon, 01 Sep 2008 07:19:00 EST<![CDATA[French doctors use laser to destroy brain tumor in conscious patient]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/30/french-doctors-use-laser-to-destroy-brain-tumor-in-conscious-pat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/30/french-doctors-use-laser-to-destroy-brain-tumor-in-conscious-pat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/30/french-doctors-use-laser-to-destroy-brain-tumor-in-conscious-pat/#commentsNeurosurgery with robotic assistance is getting pretty old hat nowadays, so it looks like scientists are trying to up the difficulty factor by keeping their patients awake -- a team of French doctors just completed the first successful removal of malignant brain tumor from a still-conscious patient, using a computerized laser and an MRI scanner to guide the probe. The fiber-optic laser was fed into the brain through a 3mm (.12 inch) hole in the patient's skull and guided via MRI to the tumor, where it fired for two minutes and completely destroyed the cancerous tissue. Once the tumor cells were dead, the cable was removed and the patient was allowed to return home -- all within a single day. That's pretty impressive, and it comes on the heels of 15 similar trials where five out six patients who underwent the total removal procedure were cancer-free nine months after surgery. The team says further research will cost an additional two million euros to progress, but if this technique works as well as they claim after peer review, we'd guess that money won't be hard to come by.

[Via Fark]

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French doctors use laser to destroy brain tumor in conscious patient originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerhealthlaserlaser neurosurgeryLaserNeurosurgerymedicinemrineurosurgerysurgerytumorSat, 30 Aug 2008 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Colorizing technology highlights cancerous tissue]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/20/colorizing-technology-highlights-cancerous-tissue/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/20/colorizing-technology-highlights-cancerous-tissue/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/20/colorizing-technology-highlights-cancerous-tissue/#commentsIn operating rooms today, cancer surgeons are essentially forced to operate without any definitive way of determining whether or not 100% of the diseased tissue has been removed. Thanks to a radical invention by researchers in Massachusetts, that huge limitation could soon be a thing of the past. A new system, dubbed FLARE (Fluorescence-Assisted Resection and Exploration), involves a near-infrared (NIR) imaging system, a video monitor, and a computer. These tools are used to see special chemical dies (christened NIR fluorophores) that are crafted to "target specific structures such as cancer cells when injected into patients." When these dyes are exposed to NIR light, the cancer cells light up, giving doctors an easy look at what they have left to remove. The team is gearing up to showcase the technology at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia -- here's hoping it can be put to good use in the very near future.

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Colorizing technology highlights cancerous tissue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerdoctorFLAREhealthMassachusettsmedicalresearchsurgeonsurgerytissueWed, 20 Aug 2008 22:23:00 EST<![CDATA[PEAK PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel gets FDA approval]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/25/peak-plasmablade-electrosurgery-scalpel-gets-fda-approval/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/25/peak-plasmablade-electrosurgery-scalpel-gets-fda-approval/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/25/peak-plasmablade-electrosurgery-scalpel-gets-fda-approval/#comments
We're still a bit gun shy when it comes to surfing over to PEAK Surgical's website after watching that PlasmaBlade demonstration video, but a new release from the outfit affirms that said electrosurgery scalpel has just been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. The "tissue dissection system," as it's so gruesomely called, has been given 501(k) clearance, meaning that PEAK can now market its tool for use in general surgery. So, anxious to camp out and be the first in the country to get sliced and diced by one of these? Bombard your local hospitals with phone calls starting next month.

[Via MedGadget]

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PEAK PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel gets FDA approval originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>approvalelectrosurgeryFDAhealthmedicalmedicinePEAKpeak plasmabladePEAK SurgicalPeakPlasmabladePeakSurgicalPlasmaBladescalpelsurgeryFri, 25 Jul 2008 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[TRUMPF intros TruVidia HD operating room camera]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/trumpf-intros-truvidia-hd-operating-room-camera/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/trumpf-intros-truvidia-hd-operating-room-camera/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/trumpf-intros-truvidia-hd-operating-room-camera/#commentsWeak stomach? Yeah, you may want to utilize that scroll wheel over there and pass this one on by. TRUMPF Medical Systems has just introduced what it's calling the "world's first in-light high definition operating room camera," the TruVidia HD. Said device is designed to be "integrated into the central handle of the TRUMPF iLED surgical light," but it's also available on a separate arm for different applications. Captured images taken during procedures are stored conveniently on a USB flash drive for easy portability, but there's no mention of what hospitals are planning (or already have) to integrate a few of these into their wards.

[Via TechRadar, thanks sk]

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TRUMPF intros TruVidia HD operating room camera originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdhospitalMedicalother hardwareotherhardwaresurgeryTRUMPFTruVidiaMon, 14 Jul 2008 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Complicated DIY project leads to Twittering Teddy Bear]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/17/complicated-diy-project-leads-to-twittering-teddy-bear/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/17/complicated-diy-project-leads-to-twittering-teddy-bear/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/17/complicated-diy-project-leads-to-twittering-teddy-bear/#comments
Sheesh -- and we though it was something special when Teddy Ruxpin went digital. Today's mesmerizing bear just isn't remarkable unless it talks, and to make it extraordinary, it needs to vocalize your Twitter messages. The mad scientists over at 2pointhome were able to implant a circuit board, USB Bluetooth adapter, 9-volt battery and a host of other goodies into an animatronic Teddy, and after coding in a few things and pairing it up, the animal was yapping in no time flat. Head on past the break to see a video of the operation, but be warned, as it's not for the faint of heart.

[Via DailyWireless]

Continue reading Complicated DIY project leads to Twittering Teddy Bear

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Complicated DIY project leads to Twittering Teddy Bear originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hacksocial networkingSocialNetworkingsurgeryteddyteddy bearTeddyBeartwittervideoTue, 17 Jun 2008 23:52:00 EST<![CDATA[UK woman edges closer to becoming bionic woman]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/uk-woman-edges-closer-to-becoming-bionic-woman/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/uk-woman-edges-closer-to-becoming-bionic-woman/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/uk-woman-edges-closer-to-becoming-bionic-woman/#commentsEileen Brown doesn't have any full-fledged robotic phalanges or anything, but she is slowly but surely becoming what most would consider a bionic woman. Mrs. Brown has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis since her 20s, and now that she's 49, countless operations have replaced every joint in her body with artificial alternatives save for her elbow and left hip -- the latter of which is set to be swapped out before the month's end. Currently, the determined dame lives with a lot of pain, but she refuses to let a few aches ruin her livelihood. In all honesty, the most amazing part of this isn't the ability of metal (enough to set off an airport detector) to hold a person together, it's the will to soldier on. Kudos, Eileen.

[Via Digg]

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UK woman edges closer to becoming bionic woman originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bionichealthjointsmedicalsurgeryWed, 11 Jun 2008 08:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot surgeon removes brain tumor from Canadian, will see more patients soon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/19/robot-surgeon-removes-brain-tumor-from-canadian-will-see-more-p/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/19/robot-surgeon-removes-brain-tumor-from-canadian-will-see-more-p/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/19/robot-surgeon-removes-brain-tumor-from-canadian-will-see-more-p/#commentsThough it's certainly not the first time a robotic surgeon has made news after joining the staff at a Canadian hospital, history has just been made in Calgary. Doctors (the human kind) were able to use remote controls, an imaging screen and the neuroArm in order to successfully remove a brain tumor from a 21-year old woman. Hailed as the first procedure of its kind, the team already has a line of patients waiting to receive similar surgeries, and the mechanical hand is being praised for its precise movements and delicate nature. Unfortunately for the arm, no pay raise (or extended vacation) is in sight.

[Via Slashdot]

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Robot surgeon removes brain tumor from Canadian, will see more patients soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 May 2008 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calgarycanadarobot surgeryrobotic surgeonRoboticSurgeonRobotSurgerysurgeonsurgeryMon, 19 May 2008 13:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Duke inches toward autonomous robo-surgeons]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/duke-inches-toward-autonomous-robo-surgeons/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/duke-inches-toward-autonomous-robo-surgeons/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/duke-inches-toward-autonomous-robo-surgeons/#commentsWe're a little ambivalent about robots performing surgery autonomously and unattended, but there are clearly cases where it'd be beneficial, and it seems like an inevitable future. Duke researchers working on robo-doc lab feasibility studies announced this week a proof of concept using 3D ultrasound mapping to enable machines to "see" what they're doing. The first test procedures have focused on use of those ultrasound transducers in catheter-based procedures using fluoroscopy, so it sounds like we'll still have a few years before we say ahhh for a machine.

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Duke inches toward autonomous robo-surgeons originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 May 2008 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dukeresearchrobotic surgeonRoboticSurgeonsurgeryThu, 08 May 2008 06:19:00 EST<![CDATA[PEAK PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel is amazing, disgusting]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/peak-plasmablade-electrosurgery-scalpel-is-amazing-disgusting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/peak-plasmablade-electrosurgery-scalpel-is-amazing-disgusting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/peak-plasmablade-electrosurgery-scalpel-is-amazing-disgusting/#comments
Okay, so we're not exactly doctors, but we couldn't help but be intrigued by PEAK Surgical's announcement today that its PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel had completed preclinical testing with positive results. Unlike traditional electrosurgery tools like the bovie cutter, the PlasmaBlade operates at low temperatures, using pulsed plasma energy to cut tissue and control bleeding. Then, stupidly, we watched the video. Let's just say now that it no longer matters to us that surgeons using the PEAK PlasmaBlade produce "minimal collateral damage" to tissue and that bleeding was reduced. Sure, it's great for the surgeons, but our eyes? Not going to be the same.

[Via MedGadget]

Read - PEAK PlasmaBlade press release
Watch - PEAK PlasmaBlade demo video (WARNING: not for the squeamish, we mean it!)

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PEAK PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel is amazing, disgusting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 May 2008 05:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electrosurgeryhealthmedicinepeakpeak plasmabladePeakPlasmabladeplasmabladescalpelsurgeryThu, 08 May 2008 05:02:00 EST<![CDATA[New bionic limbs to be controlled via brain-mounted sensors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/18/new-bionic-limbs-to-be-controlled-via-brain-mounted-sensors/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/18/new-bionic-limbs-to-be-controlled-via-brain-mounted-sensors/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/18/new-bionic-limbs-to-be-controlled-via-brain-mounted-sensors/#commentsResearchers at Osaka University are redefining "thought-controlled" limbs. Hailed as the first endeavor to dabble in the world of bionic phalanges by requiring open-skull surgery, the research is seeking to develop "real-time mind-controlled robotic limbs for the disabled." Of course, it's not the goal that's striking, but the means. Essentially, gurus working on the project are hoping to place electrode sheets directly on the surface of the brain in order to "obtain a more accurate signal," and amazingly enough, they're currently working to sign up willing subjects that are already scheduled to have brain electrodes added to deal with "monitoring epilepsy or other conditions." Maybe the bionic beings really aren't that far off, eh?

[Via Pink Tentacle]

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New bionic limbs to be controlled via brain-mounted sensors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain wavesBrainWavescyborghealthinvasivejapanmedicalmindOsaka UniversityOsakaUniversitysurgerythoughtthought-controlleduniversityFri, 18 Apr 2008 09:02:00 EST