加拿大卡加利大学(University of Calgary) Dr. Garnette Sutherland研究团队花了6年的时间，终于研发出一座新的外科手术机械系统-NeuroArm，将对神经外科手术带来革命性的影响，并超越人类手部手术的极限。
Dr. Sutherland说：「自1960年起，许多显微外科技术渐趋成形，但同时也考验着外科医师对手部精准度与灵巧度的极限。而NeuroArm则大大的改善了这个极限，并使手术的层面从器官推向更微小的细胞层次。」这个系统主要由外科医师操控计算机系统，由NeuroArm实际执行手术，并配合实时的核磁共振影像(real-time MRI)，来进行如显微镜等级的手术。目前进阶的外科测试正在实验中，而今年夏天将用NeuroArm对第一位病人进行手术。
NeuroArm是目前最新颖且前卫的机器系统之一，研发计划始于2001年，由油纸大亨Doc. B. J.以及Don Seaman兄弟提供了二佰万美元作为NeuroArm计划的进行。在设计制作过程中也由许多专家及资助单位加入，包括：慈善构构、私人单位、政府部门以及学术机构等。主要由卡加利大学和MDA (发明太空机器人Canadarm及Canadarm2的单位) 合作研发，对于医药、工程、物理学以及教育学术等领域都有不同程度的影响。使得加拿大及卡加利大学成为外科医学自动化的领导先锋。
一般来说，外科医师以手部进行外科手术的精密度可达到八分之一英吋 (大约为0.3公分) ，而NeuroArm的精密度却能达到一条头发宽度的距离 (大约为10~100微米) ，NeuroArm的成就使得外科医生能够进行更精细的手术。这项世界级的成就将使加拿大在外科医学领域中独占鳌头，并提高全世界病人的外科手术医疗质量。
(资料来源 : Bio.com)
英文原文：
NeuroArm: Navigating the Future of Surgery
04/17/07 -- 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.
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."
