New Improved Robots for the Operating Room
AN AUTOMATED ENDOSCOPIC
SYSTEM FOR Optimal Positioning (AESOP), a robotic arm that assists
in surgical procedures, has been augmented under a second Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program contract, administered
by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. ZEUS, the improved advanced computer-enhanced
robotic system version of AESOP, is currently under a U.S. Food
and Drug Administration–approved Phase I Investigational Device
Exemption (IDE) study.
Clinical trials currently under way in the United States include
delicate heart bypass surgery. ZEUS is marked for commercial sale
in the European Community. The original AESOP, also developed under
an SBIR contract, helps surgeons in surgical procedures such as
gall bladder operations, hernia repair and gynecological and urological
operations. It received Food and Drug Administration approval in
1995.
Computer-enhanced robotic systems have been developed successfully
by Computer Motion Inc., to assist surgeons in the approximately
1 million endoscopic surgical procedures performed each year in
the United States. Endoscopic procedures use a laparoscope, a thin
probe with a miniature camera attached, which is surgically placed
inside the patient. The surgeon views an image of the surgical field
on a television monitor.
The role of AESOP is to hold the laparoscope in the desired position
for the surgeon, replacing the unsteady hand of a surgical nurse
and giving the surgeon direct control of the laparoscope's position.
Possible miscommunications between the surgeon and the surgical
nurse are avoided, and the surgical nurse is free to perform other
tasks. Also, the surgeon has a jitter-free image to view the operating
scene.
AESOP received a number of important enhancements. These include
additional robotic manipulators or arms under the surgeon's control,
the use of voice commands to control the position of the laparoscope
and finer controls of the robotic arms, including the filtering
out of tremors to the levels required in microsurgical suturing.
The time needed for endoscopic procedures has been significantly
reduced with the aid of AESOP, based on actual operating room experience.
The advancing capabilities of robotic systems are opening the door
for new and safer endoscopic procedures. Potentially limiting the
number of surgical nurses required to assist in these procedures
represents significant cost savings.
Patients also benefit whenever endoscopic procedures are elected.
Minimally invasive endoscopic procedures result in less patient
trauma and discomfort, as well as much faster recovery times. For
example, conventional open-heart surgery, which now requires a lengthy
incision and splitting open the patient's breast bone to give surgeons
access to the heart, will only necessitate a few small incisions
with endoscopic technology.
For more information, contact Patricia McGuire at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory.
Call: 818/354-1258, Fax: 818/354-2385, E-mail: Patricia.A.McGuire@jpl.nasa.gov
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TWO-CHEMICAL
CARCINOGEN DETECTOR
Through
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I and II
contracts, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, chemical detector
company has developed a two-chemistry badge for monitoring
exposure and risk analysis of toxic vapors. NASA's Kennedy
Space Center needed a reliable way to monitor employees
in its hypergolic operations for exposure to carcinogens
hydrazine (Hz) and monomethyl hydrazine (MMH). Both hydrazines
have an eight-hour time-weighted average threshold limit
value of 10 parts per billion for personnel exposure.
GMD
Systems of Bacharach, Inc., developed for Kennedy a two-chemistry
colorimetric monitoring dosimeter badge that detects Hz
and MMH vapors. The lightweight, easy-to-use, sensitive
and reliable disposable badges will help minimize the risks
associated with the exposure of personnel to toxic vapors.
GMD's commercial version can be used in chemical manufacturing,
industrial cleaning applications and other areas where Hz
is used. The inexpensive badges are individually sealed
and dated to provide actual exposure doses. Stain stability
and retention are excellent, with low and maximum dose detection.
The dosimeter badges have been used by major chemical companies
worldwide.
The
badge has two exposed, separate paper tape chemistries that
change colors when exposed to Hz or MMH, which can immediately
be seen in the badge's pair of circular windows. By using
a dose estimator, the user can match the stain density to
available dose information and determine the approximate
exposure level.
A
1980s dosimeter badge prototype was not effective, and a
NASA contractor working with the Naval Research Laboratory
found a reaction of colorless aqueous vanillin solution
with Hz and MMH to form a yellow solution. Risk areas where
exposure monitoring is required include facilities in which
workers are engaged in the assembly and operational handling
of spacecraft, missiles and aircraft auxiliary power units
in which fuels are used.
For
more information, contact Lewis Parrish at Kennedy Space
Center. Call: 407/867-6373, E-mail:
ParriLM@kscgws00.ksc.nasa.gov
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