[biomed] World's First Image-guided Surgical Robot To Enhance Accuracy And Safety Of Brain Surgery

[Eugen Leitl]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417114732.htm

World's First Image-guided Surgical Robot To Enhance Accuracy And Safety Of
Brain Surgery

Science Daily — Surgery is about to change with the introduction of a new
surgical robotic system at the University of Calgary/Calgary Health Region.
NeuroArm aims to revolutionize neurosurgery and other branches of operative
medicine by liberating them from the constraints of the human hand.

Dr. Garnette Sutherland with neuroArm. (Credit: Ken Bendiktsen, University of
Calgary)

The world's first MRI-compatible surgical robot, unveiled today, is the
creation of neurosurgeon Dr. Garnette Sutherland and his team. Dr. Sutherland
has spent the last six years leading a team of Canadian scientists, in
cooperation with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), to design a
machine "that represents a milestone in medical technology."

"Many of our microsurgical techniques evolved in the 1960s, and have pushed
surgeons to the limits of their precision, accuracy, dexterity and stamina,"
says Dr. Sutherland, professor of neurosurgery, University of Calgary Faculty
of Medicine and the Calgary Health Region. "NeuroArm dramatically enhances
the spatial resolution at which surgeons operate, and shifts surgery from the
organ towards the cell level."

Designed to be controlled by a surgeon from a computer workstation, neuroArm
operates in conjunction with real-time MR imaging, providing surgeons
unprecedented detail and control, enabling them to manipulate tools at a
microscopic scale. Advanced surgical testing of neuroArm is currently
underway, followed by the first patient, anticipated for this summer.

"The launch of neuroArm places the U of C and the Calgary Health Region at
the forefront of the emerging field of biomedical engineering, and
establishes Canada's leadership role in image-guided robotic surgery," says U
of C President Harvey Weingarten, PhD.

"The Calgary Health Region considers the introduction of the neuroArm an
historic moment in our ability to provide unprecedented care and safety to
patients in Alberta," says the Calgary Health Region's Chief Executive
Officer and President Jack Davis. "We are extremely proud to be a partner in
neuroArm and to have worked with such a dedicated team of individuals and
funding partners."

NeuroArm, one of the most advanced robotic systems ever developed, was
designed and built in collaboration with MDA, known for creating Canadarm and
Canadarm2. Bringing neuroArm to life required a unique partnership between
medicine, engineering, physics, and education; some of Calgary's most
visionary philanthropists; the high-tech sector, and numerous government
agencies and research funding organizations. "This unprecedented
collaboration is a direct result of Calgary's optimistic and entrepreneurial
community spirit," says Dr. Sutherland. "It's no accident a project like this
is coming out of Calgary. Our community believes in innovation and supporting
challenging projects."

"This is truly a flagship program for the University of Calgary and all the
partner agencies involved," says Weingarten. "Visioning and building neuroArm
required unprecedented collaboration between numerous government departments,
funding agencies and the private sector. Making this a reality will have
impacts and benefits we can't even anticipate as Calgary and Canada become
known as world leaders in the field of robotic surgery."

The project began in 2001 when the namesakes of the Seaman Family MR Research
Centre, Calgary philanthropists, oilpatch pioneers and brothers Doc, B.J. and
Don Seaman provided $2 million to begin planning neuroArm. Their contribution
was a natural extension of their support for the research centre that began
with the development of the world's first intraoperative MRI scanner based on
a movable high-field magnet.

"As engineers, the technology involved in neuroArm intrigued us from the
start. We really understood the challenges and appreciated the brilliance
that had to go into it," Doc Seaman says. The family realized that a project
like neuroArm would place Calgary on the leading-edge of surgery worldwide.

"The best surgeons in the world can work within an eighth of an inch.
NeuroArm makes it possible for surgeons to work accurately within the width
of a hair," Doc Seaman says. "This will put us on the world stage and will
help attract more top people in medicine and surgery, which will benefit the
university and the community as a whole."

"This is a shining example of Canadian science making breakthroughs that will
improve quality of life for people in Canada and around the globe," says
President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation Dr. Eliot
Phillipson. "This world-class project will further develop Canada's
international reputation as a place where outstanding research is being
conducted."

"Our mission is to be a leader in health and a partner in care. Patient care
and safety are always our number one priority," says Davis. "We are thrilled
that the neuroArm will improve recovery and wait times for patients, and most
of all, improve their quality of life following surgery so they can get back
to daily life activities."

The Seaman family's donation, combined with funding from Western Economic
Diversification Canada, allowed for detailed planning and design of the
project. That set the stage for substantial support from the Canada
Foundation for Innovation, the National Research Council of Canada, Alberta
Advanced Education and Technology, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical
Research and additional philanthropists to build the one-of-a-kind machine
and create a comprehensive medical robotics program.

A global search for robotics expertise led Sutherland to MDA, a perfect fit
for neuroArm because of the company's background in creating specialized
space robots, used aboard NASA space shuttles and the International Space
Station.

"NeuroArm is a great fit for us, allowing us to apply our world-renowned
space solutions to medical applications that will benefit patients here on
Earth," says Bruce Mack, vice-president of development programs of MDA's
Brampton operations. "The combination of our remote operation and sensory
information expertise, coupled with our manipulation technologies, will
enable improved decision making and performance in the operating theatre."

Developing neuroArm required an international collaboration of health
professionals, physicists, electrical, software, optical and mechanical
engineers to build a robot capable of operating safely in a surgical suite
and within the strong magnetic field of the intraoperative MRI environment.

"Building a robot is complex to begin with. Adding the constraints of
operating in a sterile operating room, within an MRI machine and alongside
the other people involved in surgery makes it a very complex environment,"
says the project's robotics engineer Alex Greer. By acquiring first-hand
knowledge of the demands in the operating room, Greer and Paul McBeth, the
first U of C neuroArm robotics engineer, acted as the bridge between the
physicians, scientists and engineers involved in the project.

"Doctors and engineers are good at what they do but they speak different
languages," Greer says. "Translating surgical requirements into technical
terms can be a challenge." When the project began, engineers from MDA
traveled to Calgary and worked with surgeons for several weeks to define the
requirements necessary for the successful design of neuroArm.

Sutherland's team is developing specialized training programs in partnership
with the Calgary Health Region, and U of C's faculties of medicine and
education to train surgeons in the use of neuroArm. Many other surgical
disciplines have and continue to participate in applying neuroArm to various
types of surgical procedures.

"We're not just building a robot, we're building a medical robotics program,"
Dr. Sutherland says. "We want the neuroArm technology to be translated into
the global community, i.e. hospitals around the world," he says. "To
accomplish this, we will need our students and young professionals because
they're the powerhouse when it comes to embracing new technology and applying
it to clinical care."

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by University of
Calgary.