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Articles tagged with "medical-technology"

  • Man’s deadly chest ‘time bomb’ removed using 3D-printed aorta model

    Surgeons at Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital successfully performed a rare and complex operation to replace nearly the entire aorta of a man in his late 50s, whose vessel had ballooned to about four times its normal size, posing an imminent risk of fatal rupture. The life-threatening condition, described as a “ticking time bomb,” was discovered during routine monitoring. To prepare for the intricate nine-hour surgery, the team collaborated with the Herston Biofabrication Institute to create a life-sized, multi-material 3D-printed model of the patient’s distorted aorta. This tactile model, produced from detailed CT scans, allowed surgeons to rehearse the procedure more effectively than traditional two-dimensional imaging. During surgery, the patient’s body was cooled and circulation temporarily stopped to enable safe removal of the diseased aortic arch, which had expanded to about eight centimeters—far beyond the normal two to three centimeters. The damaged section was replaced with a synthetic graft resembling “flexible, waterproof jackets.”

    3D-printingsynthetic-graftmedical-materialsbiofabricationvascular-surgerymulti-material-printingmedical-technology
  • CRISPR-powered home test detects cancer, HIV; costs less than $1

    MIT researchers have developed an inexpensive, durable DNA-based sensor that uses CRISPR technology to detect diseases such as cancer and HIV at home for under $1. The sensor operates by employing a CRISPR-associated enzyme, Cas12, which, upon recognizing a target genetic sequence like a cancer biomarker or viral DNA, activates and cleaves nearby DNA strands on the sensor’s electrode. This cleavage alters the electrical signal, allowing disease detection via a handheld device. A key innovation is a polymer coating made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) that protects the DNA on the sensor, enabling it to remain stable and functional for up to two months even under high temperatures (up to 150°F), overcoming previous limitations that required refrigeration and fresh preparation. The sensor consists of a gold leaf electrode laminated onto plastic, with DNA anchored by a sulfur-based molecule, and can analyze various sample types including urine, saliva, and nasal swabs. The technology has successfully detected PCA3, a prostate cancer biomarker

    materialsCRISPRDNA-sensorelectrochemical-sensorpolymer-coatingdiagnosticsmedical-technology
  • Distalmotion makes its first multirobot sale in the U.S. - The Robot Report

    Distalmotion has achieved its first multirobot sale in the U.S. with AdventHealth, a large healthcare system operating 50 hospitals across nine states, adopting its DEXTER robotic surgery system to expand minimally invasive procedures. AdventHealth has already completed initial surgeries using DEXTER in its outpatient department, highlighting the system’s alignment with goals for flexibility and efficiency. The DEXTER system, developed by the Lausanne-based company with U.S. offices in Cleveland, is commercially available in both the U.S. and Europe and is designed to simplify operations and broaden access to robotic surgery, particularly in outpatient hospital departments and ambulatory surgical centers. The DEXTER robot addresses the rising demand for surgical robotics in high-volume soft-tissue procedures moving to outpatient settings by offering a mobile, compact, and quickly deployable system that integrates easily into existing workflows. Unique features include a sterile console that allows surgeons to perform bedside tasks without breaking sterility or redocking, and an open architecture compatible with existing instruments

    roboticssurgical-robotsmedical-technologyhealthcare-innovationrobotic-surgeryminimally-invasive-surgeryhospital-technology
  • ForSight Robotics raises $125M for cataract surgery tech

    ForSight Robotics has secured $125 million in a Series B funding round led by Eclipse, with participation from strategic investors including board member Fred Moll, the Adani Group, Reiya Ventures, and existing backers. This latest round brings the company’s total funding to $195 million. The capital will accelerate the development and commercialization of ForSight’s Oryom platform, which is promoted as the world’s first robotic surgery system specifically designed for cataract and other eye disease treatments. Oryom integrates AI algorithms, advanced computer vision, and miniaturized mechanical components to enable precise, consistent, and ergonomically improved ophthalmic surgeries, with capabilities to access both anterior and posterior segments of the eye. ForSight plans to initiate first-in-human clinical trials of the Oryom system within the year. Co-founder and CMO Dr. Joseph Nathan emphasized ophthalmology as a significant new frontier for surgical robotics, comparable in market potential and clinical need to general surgery’s earlier robotics revolution. The platform aims to

    roboticssurgical-roboticsophthalmic-surgeryAI-in-healthcarerobotic-surgery-platformmedical-technologyForSight-Robotics
  • SS Innovations completes its first cardiac surgery in the Americas with SSi Mantra - The Robot Report

    SS Innovations International Inc. has completed its first robotic cardiac surgery in the Americas using its SSi Mantra 3 surgical robotic system. On June 8, 2024, Dr. Juan Zuniga at Interhospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador, performed a robotic Atrial Septal Defect closure, marking the first such procedure in the Western Hemisphere with this technology. The minimally invasive surgery, which repairs a hole between the heart’s upper chambers, was successful, with the patient recovering well. Interhospital is the first South American hospital to install the SSi Mantra system, which has already been used for various complex surgeries since its installation. The SSi Mantra system is described as a user-friendly, modular, multi-arm robotic platform featuring three to five robotic arms, a 3D 4K monitor, an ergonomic surgeon command center, and advanced imaging capabilities that enhance precision and safety. It supports over 40 types of robotic endo-surgical instruments across multiple specialties, including

    robotsurgical-roboticsrobotic-surgerycardiac-surgerymedical-technologyminimally-invasive-surgeryhealthcare-robotics
  • HistoSonics Edison system gains early market access in the U.K. - The Robot Report

    robotultrasoundhistotripsymedical-technologynon-invasive-treatmentliver-tumorshealthcare-innovation
  • J&J reports positive Monarch robotic bronchoscopy data - The Robot Report

    robotrobotic-surgerybronchoscopymedical-technologyminimally-invasive-proceduresJohnson-&-Johnsonhealthcare-innovation
  • Microrobot system is designed to float inside stroke patient for autonomous thrombectomy - The Robot Report

    robotthrombectomymicrorobotmedical-technologyautonomous-systemsdigital-twinhealthcare-innovation
  • NVIDIA accepts Ekso Bionics into its Connect program - The Robot Report

    robotexoskeletonmobilityartificial-intelligencerehabilitationhuman-enhancementmedical-technology
  • Intuitive Surgical is making a CEO change

    robotsurgical-roboticsIntuitive-SurgicalCEO-changemedical-technologyda-Vinci-systemrobotic-assisted-surgery