The MiniAture Robot for Surgical Applications (MARS) is already FDA-approved for orthopedic and spinal surgery. Now, Israeli scientists have given it GPS accuracy for keyhole neurosurgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure used for tumor biopsies or deep brain stimulation, but you need to know exactly where you operate. So the researchers have superimposed ‘MRI or CT images of the patient’s brain over an image of the current surgical situation.’ This robot, which weighs about 230 grams, will get an additional arm to guide a needle or a probe weighing about 150 grams. It could appear on the market within 18 months, according to the team, and I hope it will be more accurate than an ordinary GPS device.

Links: ZDNet, Primidi