Oct 30 2010
Professor Peter Brett of Brunel University has developed the first-ever micro-drill robot for surgery. The robot will be displayed at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) 'Robotics in Surgery' summit, which will be held at Birdcage Walk in London on November 3.
This medical robot has been effectively tested in cochlear implant surgery. It can clearly differentiate between several tissue types and can locate the correct puncture point, followed by piercing to an accurate depth. All these operations are performed automatically, eliminating the need for programming. Additionally, this medical robot can offer real-time response to tissue types, nature and displacement.
Medical robots are widely utilized by surgeons since they demand more precision with minor incisions. Other major advantages include quick recovery following the surgery, lesser complications and reduced tissue injury.
At the conference, various topics covering the development of creeping and swimming robots that can navigate freely inside the body fissures will be conferred, thereby establishing a deeper vision into the upcoming surgeries.
According to Dr Patrick Finlay, Chairman of the Conference, few of the second-generation robots being displayed at the summit can assist surgeries that are not possible by manual methods.
Source: http://www.brunel.ac.uk