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Operations on brain tumors, certain aneurysms, cervical spine problems, and functional neurosurgery for pain and seizure disorders require very high dexterity and challenge the best of free-hand surgeons. Many difficult cases are deemed inoperable due to the extreme demands and poor probability of success. These are ideal opportunities for dexterity enhancement technology. Endoscopic sinus surgery, ear surgery, micro-vascular surgery, trauma reconstruction, and hand/finger reimplantation are also procedures that could benefit from high precision, dexterity-enhancement tools. MicroDex addresses this market by providing a small robotic mechanism that is attached to the stereotaxic framework that immobilizes the patient. By attaching the robot and the patient together through the stereotaxic framework, many of the safety issues are automatically addressed. Integration with Advanced Imaging Technology There are a number of companies that have developed systems that can produce a three-dimensional model of human anatomy from various imaging systems and guide a surgeon with special tools during the real operation on that patient. These systems are very useful for coordinating the motions of a robot to the patient anatomy. In addition, MicroDex will have the capability to operate in sites where the imaging systems can detect a problem, but it may not be practical to achieve direct visualization of the area. These systems will also allow the surgeon to set boundaries, and plan the surgery on the three dimensional computer models before actually working on the patient. |
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MicroDex Robot |
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To contact us: |
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Advanced Robotics for Medicine and Industry |
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MicroDex Alpha Prototype This is a picture of the first trial in a clinical setting. The surgeon and robot work together. Patent Pending |