Robot Assisted Micro-Surgery
Building from its established NASA technology base in teleoperations and telerobotics, JPL is developing a new robotic microdexterity platform with important applications to medicine.Through a cooperative NASA-Industry effort, the Robot Assisted Microsurgery (RAMS) task develops a dexterity-enhanced master-slave telemanipulator enabling breakthrough procedures in micro/minimally invasive surgery. A cooperative commercial development agreement with MicroDexterity
Systems, Inc. The applicable medical practice includes eye, ear, nose, throat, face, hand, and cranial surgeries. As part of planned task activities, the resulting NASA robot technologies will be benchmarked in actual operating room procedures for vitreous retinal surgery.
The primary objective of this task is to provide an integrated robotic platform for master-slave dual-arm manipulation operational in a one cubic inch work volume at features in the 100 micron range (our goal is to extend these capabilities to features in the 20 micron range). The research is a natural evolution of our extensive experience in force-reflecting teleoperation with disimilar master/slave. Capabilities will include force-reflection and textural tactile feedback, and in situ multiple-imaging modalities for improved surgical visualization and tissue discrimination. Potential NASA applications may include EVA/IVA telescience, bioprocessing, materials process and micro mechanical assembly, small-instrument servicing, and terrestrial environmental testing in vacuum.
Point of Contact:
Paul Schenker
Mail Stop 125-224
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
818-354-2681
schenker@jpl.nasa.gov
Telerobotics Program
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Maintained by: Dave Lavery
Last updated: May 10, 1996