Called the SpineAssist, the robot was made at the Technion-Israel
Institute of Technology, It is being produced by Mazor Surgical
Technologies,founded by its inventor, Prof.Moshe Shoham.
The soft-drink-can-sized device is attached to a patient's body,
guiding and positioning tools and implants so that surrounding nerves
are not damaged.
"SpineAssist minimizes the risk of working freehand in sensitive
regions of the spine," Shoham said in a statement.
"It conceives a plan for locating the spinal implants, but neither
replaces the surgeon nor performs any operations. After examining and
approving the recommendation, the surgeon inserts surgical
instruments through the arm of the robot, thereby minimizing the
danger of damaging vital organs."
The $100,000 device will be tested at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation
in Cleveland, Ohio and the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer,
Israel.
More than 500,000 spine operations are performed annually in the
United States and provide a major business opportunity for the
company.
Sales in the American spinal industry are projected to reach $7 billion.
The miniature robot that helps point surgeons to just the right place
for spinal repairs has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.