A Calgary surgical team made history this year by using a robot to remove a brain tumour.Doctors controlled the "neuroArm", the world's first MRI - compatible surgical robot capable of both microsurgery and image-guided biopsy-from a computer workstation.

Doctors performed the microsurgery by moving the neuroArm and manipulating surgical tool attachments by remote control-and with the help of images delivered via the system's MRI scanner.

The neuroArm was created by Dr. Garnette Sutherland-a Calgary Health Region neurosurgeon and professor at the University of Calgary-and his team.

The system has the potential to revolutionize all surgery by freeing doctors from the constraints of the human hand.

What a wonderful discovery.
Thank you Vicky for sharing the information.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you for sharing the information Vicky.
Canada has come up with a great invention.

It will be wonderful to make the surgeons' lives a bit more relaxing by reducing a considerable amount of strain on their hands.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for posting Vicky.

NeuroArm possesses the dexterity to perform microsurgery, outside of the MRI system.

Telerobotic operations[4] both inside and outside the magnet are performed using specialized tool sets based on standard neurosurgical instruments, adapted to the end effectors. Using these, neuroArm is able to cut and manipulate soft tissue, dissect tissue planes, suture, biopsy, electrocauterize, aspirate and irrigate. NeuroArm is 3 feet (0.91 m) tall and 2 feet (0.61 m) wide, but it can be adjusted to fit any table height. The robot weighs 500 pounds and has two ambidextrous arms. It sits on castors and can be easily rolled in and out of position. It has a fail-safe braking mechanism that secures it to the floor preventing any movement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeuroArm


neuroArm is the world’s first MRI-compatible surgical robot capable of both microsurgery and image guided biopsy. The surgical robotic system is controlled by a surgeon from a computer workstation, working in conjunction with intraoperative MR (magnetic resonance) imaging. Dr. Sutherland developed the intraoperative MRI machine with Winnipeg-based IMRIS Inc. The technology allows a high field MRI scanner to move in to the operating room on demand, providing imaging during the surgical procedure without compromising patient safety

http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/may2008/neuroArm
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What fun! I can just see little robots running around some day doing all our work for us

Thank you for the post Vicky.

This is a wonderful invention for the surgeons,
and it is a fabulous creation for the Canadian team.


Paige Nickason, 21, is recovering after having a tumour removed from her brain with the assistance of neuroArm, a surgical robotic system developed by a team led by Dr. Garnette Sutherland, a Calgary Health Region neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery in the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine.

“I had to have the tumour removed anyway so I was happy to help by being a part of this historical surgery,” says Nickason.

http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/may2008/neuroArm

Thank you everyone for your replies.
I think that neuroArm is a very wonderful and useful discovery.It is a big help to the surgeons.

Love,
Vicky


Two specially designed hand controllers allow the surgeon to control the left and right robotic arms. These controllers are equipped with a sense of touch. Not only can the surgeon differentiate bone from soft tissue, but the surgeon can enhance his/her sense of touch so as to ‘feel’ a small artery. This feature is accessed through the robot status touch screen at the control center. Additionally the surgeon can set the calibration such that a 1cm displacement of the hand controller can result in a 1 mm movement of the surgical tool. This allows the surgeon to use more gross movements while performing very fine procedures.

http://www.neuroarm.org/project.php#4