Quanser Inc. based in Canada uses sophisticated Haptic Technology to advance minimally invasive surgery techniques. A year ago, they started a research and development partnership to advance robotically -assisted surgery between Canadian Surgical Technology and Advanced Robotics (C-STAR) and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), supported by Quanser and its cuttingedge Haptic Technology. Led by CSTAR, the $750,000 research project builds on Quanser's work in the area of haptics and advanced robotic technology, with the ability to add a realistic 'sense of touch' to surgical robotic tools. Quanser has previously integrated its expertise and equipment into medical training simulators and surgical robotic prototypes and will provide integral components for the new project - aimed at improving techniques for minimally invasive surgery.

"We are designing robotic tools to enhance surgical capabilities, allowing the surgeon to transcend the limitations of conventional technology and work in a less invasive environment," says Quanser CEO Paul Gilbert. "As we continue to make advancements, we will see a widening in the range of surgical procedures for which robotically-assisted surgery is suited - from brain-microsurgery to surgery over long distances."


Adding a realistic 'sense' of touch allows the surgeon to check for calcification, to feel the 'pop' when a needle pokes through tissue, to feel resistance when suturing, or against a scalpel. The technology eliminates natural tremors and prevents accidental movements from being transmitted to the robotic tools. The new initiative, entitled "Haptics-Enabled Robotics-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery," is supported by more than half-a-million dollars in investments, including $247,000 in funding from OCE. Gilbert says, "Without OCE's support for this groundbreaking research and development, we would not be able to invest the time and resources necessary to explore these new and important applications for haptic technology." The Natural Science and Engineering Research Council Canada (NSERC) also provided funding.

The Future
With the baby boomer population aging and an economy that demands smart technological solutions, the future of robotics looks extremely bright with a never-ending channel of expanding possibilities. The new 'i-Snake' is being designed to provide a platform to extend the use of minimally invasive surgery. This technology will incorporate state-of-the-art imaging and intuitive manipulation technologies, allowing surgeons to carry out more complex and demanding procedures within the body, which were only possible previously by using invasive surgical approaches. A team from Imperial College London was awarded over $4.2 million to develop the i-Snake over the next four years.

Something to think about
According to Marshall Brain, founder of HowStuffWorks.com, over the next 40 years robots will eliminate most human jobs. This could include many positions in the medical profession like secretarial, transport, laboratory technicians - perhaps even surgeons. Brain estimates that unless there are ways to compensate for lost jobs - more than 50% of Americans could be unemployed and replaced by robots by 2055.

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