NeuroArm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NeuroArm is a surgical robot [1]. It was specifically designed for [neurosurgery] and can perform both microsurgery and stereotaxy. It was designed to be image-guided and can perform procedures inside an MRI[2]. NeuroArm includes two remote detachable manipulators on a mobile base, a workstation and a system control cabinet. For biopsy-stereotaxy, either the left or right arm is transferred to an extension board that attaches to the OR table. The procedure is performed with image-guidance, as MR images are acquired in near real-time. The end-effectors [3]interface with surgical tools which are based on standard neurosurgical instruments.

End-effectors are equipped with three-dimensional force-sensors, providing the sense of touch. The surgeon seated at the workstation controls the robot using force feedback hand controllers. The workstation recreates the sight and sensation of microsurgery by displaying the surgical site and 3D MRI displays, with superimposed tools. NeuroArm enables remote manipulation of the surgical tools from a control room adjacent to the surgical suite. It was designed to function within the environment of a 1.5 Tesla intraoperative MRI system. As neuroArm is MR-compatible, stereotaxy can be performed inside the bore of the magnet with near real-time image guidance. 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 tall and 2 feet 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.

1 History
2 References
3 External links
- 3.1 Videos
- 3.2 Related Patents

[edit] History

NeuroArm has been developed by Dr. Garnette Sutherland, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Calgary[5] and Calgary Health Region[6]. The project began in 2001 when Calgary philanthropists, oilpatch pioneers and brothers Doc[[7]], B.J. and Don Seaman provided $2 million to begin design. Their contribution was a natural extension of their support for the Seaman Family Magnetic Resonance Research Centre, part of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute[8], from which originated the world’s first moveable intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system based on a 1.5 Tesla magnet[9]. Dr. Sutherland and his group established a collaboration with the Canadian space engineering company MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA)[10]. The project was subsequently heavily funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation[11], Western Economic Diversification[12], Alberta Advanced Education and Technology[13] and private donations through the Reach! campaign[14]. Close collaboration between MDA space robotic engineers, who built the Canadarm and Dexter, and University of Calgary physicians, nurses and scientists contributed to the design and development of neuroArm. Official launch of the project was on April 17 2007[15]. The event captivated media attention worldwide.

NeuroArm was designed to take full advantage of the imaging environment provided by intraoperative MRI. The ability to couple near real-time, high resolution images to robotic technologies will provide the surgeon unprecedented image guidance, precision, accuracy and dexterity. MDA Engineers were immersed in the operating room to study typical tool and surgeon motions in order to use biomimicry for effective design of the computer-assisted surgical device. NeuroArm has been designed to replace the main neurosurgeon and can easily be moved. The OR environment, personnel, surgical rhythm and instrumentation remains unchanged. The surgeon, sitting at the workstation, is provided a rich visual, virtual environment that recreates the sight, sound and touch of surgery. All components of the device and workstation are of the highest quality and were chosen to reproduce and enhance the surgical environment. Functions like tremor filtering and motion scaling were applied to increase precision and accuracy while functions like no-go zones and linear lock were applied to enhance safety. The system is unable of fully independent movement and is at all times slaved to the surgeon’s movement. An automove from point A to point B (specified by the surgeon) can however be pre-recorded in advance but has to be activated by the operator. The neuroArm system is the first of its kind.