Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Snake-like Robots For Throat Surgery Doc Ock-Style
Snake-like robots are under development at Johns Hopkins University for use in throat surgery. The tiny robotic "snakes" have tools at the ends and are fabricated from non-magnetic materials.
(Snakelike robots for throat surgery)
During surgical procedures, a physician would sit at a workstation showing a three-dimensional view of the site of the operation. Software would control the movement of the robot, following the direction of the doctor.
This is not an autonomous robot; it is a tool for use by surgeons, not a replacement for surgeons. One of the developers, Russell H. Taylor, a professor of computer science, states:
"We want to work in partnership with surgeons to help them do their work more effectively. Human hands are remarkable, but they have limitations. There are times when it would be useful to have a 'third hand,' and we can provide that. Sometimes a surgeon's fingers are too large to work in a small confined space within the body. We can help by building tools that act like unhumanly small and highly dexterous hands."
The snakelike robots are highly maneuverable - they can form tight S-curves and have six degrees of freedom. They will help surgeons make incisions and even tie sutures with greater precision. They will require another five years of development and experimentation before use with human patients.
I couldn't resist a reference to Doc Ock - Doctor Otto Octavius, the genius who became an archvillain in Spider Man. Doc Ock also used his robotic tentacles for scientific experimentation.
(Doc Ock from Spiderman)
It's interesting that an optimal solution for moving around in tight spaces has already been found by nature; for the large size version of this same problem, see Snake-Arm Robots From OCRobotics Reach Out and Snake-Arm Robot In A Plane. For an historical perspective, see the encyclopedic Snake Robot Roundup!. Story via Johns Hopkins snake robot press release.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/24/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 2 )
Related News Stories - (" Medical ")
I Didn't Know You Can Already Buy Flesh Putty
'I filled your bullet hole with flesh putty and the lattice.'
Paradromics Implant FDA 'Breakthrough Device'
'I used my implant to tell MILLIE what we wanted...' - Pournelle and Niven, 1981.
Mice, At Least, Can Sober Up Quickly
'Then draw some aldodote-vitamin pills from the medic.' - H. Beam Piper, 1962.
Real-Life Mind-Reading With MRI
'So you see, you can hide nothing from me. I am about to know you better than anyone has ever known you.' - Daniel Suarez, 2009.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
ESTHER Tennis Robot V. Fact (1934) And Fiction (1952)
'THE red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court...'
Japan's LignoSat Space Wood Satellite And Dan Simmons' Treeship
'The Consul remembered his first glimpse of the kilometer-long treeship...'
Skyline Robotics Instantiates Heinlein's 'Window Willie' Skyscraper Robot
'Do you know what window washing used to cost by the hour?'
Drone Bombings In Moscow Foreseen 100 Years Ago
'Once the target is confirmed, it uses an IR laser to send a coded signal back to the parent, clearing it to attack.'
I Didn't Know You Can Already Buy Flesh Putty
'I filled your bullet hole with flesh putty and the lattice.'
'A Sign in Space' Gives Practice In Decoding ET Messages
'... it will be easy to form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inhabitants of the moon.'
Melting Permafrost Endangers Infrastructure
'From the tower's huge octagonal base radiate wide silvery strips...'
EELS Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor For Enceladus
'It was about five feet long... a black bullet head and red camera eyes.'
Lazy Lawyer's Trust In ChatGPT Misplaced
'The Law Society has strict rules on the use of pseudo-intelligent software...'
Paradromics Implant FDA 'Breakthrough Device'
'I used my implant to tell MILLIE what we wanted...'
Mice, At Least, Can Sober Up Quickly
'Then draw some aldodote-vitamin pills from the medic.'
Is It Time For Lunar Farside Telescopes?
'Mount Ambarzumian Observatory, on Farside.'
Spaceflight Vertigo Solved By NASA Releasing The Kraken
"I threw up in my helmet."
TM-62 Loitering Ground Landmine
Runaway movie comes to life!
Helpful Robots In Science Fiction
'If you douse me again... I'm donating you to a city college.'
Lunar Pogo Stick - Retro Technovelgy From 1968
'Lucky touched the leap knob...'
