Guest guest Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 Ma, I think there are a few people in the group who had their Heller Myotomy done by "robot" -- I'm pretty sure a few people have mentioned that. One thing that I DON'T like about the article, though, is the way they portray this as a "robot surgery." It's not until the very end of the article that they acknowledge that this isn't REALLY a "robot" at all, just another type of laparoscopic tool / instrument. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a robot is:1 a : a machine that looks like a human being and performs various complex acts (as walking or talking) of a human being; also : a similar but fictional machine whose lack of capacity for human emotions is often emphasized b : an efficient insensitive person who functions automatically2 : a device that automatically performs complicated often repetitive tasks3 : a mechanism guided by automatic controls In my opinion, the "robot" in this article meets none of these definitions.... it's simply an extra-long handle on a scalpel, camera, retractor, etc. I think it's great that they're making all these new tools to make laparoscopic surgery safer and/or more efficient/effective, but I wish they wouldn't misrepresent it as "robot surgery".... when we can be wheeled into an O.R. and have all the humans leave the room while the robot does everything all by itself, THEN they can get away w/ actually calling it "robot surgery"! Hopefully the price for the machine will come down in the near future, so more patients can benefit from the technology. Debbi in Michigan Has anyone seen this article? Quite interesting. Is this how it will be in the future?http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7684586.htm> Ma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 Debbi Heiser wrote: >... It's not until the very end of the article that they acknowledge that >this isn't REALLY a " robot " at all, just another type of laparoscopic tool >/ instrument. >...In my opinion, the " robot " in this article meets none of these >definitions.... it's simply an extra-long handle on a scalpel, camera, >retractor, etc. I think for the most part this is a remotely controlled device. If I remember correctly it was first designed to allow doctors thousands of miles away to perform procedures without having to be there in person. I don't know but it may also have some automatic functions. I would guess that the tools connected to the device move through a combination of remote control and automatic functions. Kind of like having an automatic transmission in a car. You still control the car, but the transmission is automatic. We don't call cars robots, but the basic automatic transmission is a hydraulic robot, not just a longer handle to the gears. Calling the device as a whole a robot is maybe a bit like calling a remote controlled car a robot, understandable to some and not others. notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 Here is an article about the Da Vinci Robot which I have posted before. This is an article about my surgeon, Dr. Horacio Asbun, and explains how the robot works. http://www.jmmdhs.com/index.php/news_article/newsID/30.html Dr. Asbun uses the robot on his myotomy patients, but I’m not sure if he is using it on his esophagectomy patients yet. Sandi in No CA Holt- Re: Achalasia Article Debbi Heiser wrote: >... It's not until the very end of the article that they acknowledge that >this isn't REALLY a " robot " at all, just another type of laparoscopic tool >/ instrument. >...In my opinion, the " robot " in this article meets none of these >definitions.... it's simply an extra-long handle on a scalpel, camera, >retractor, etc. I think for the most part this is a remotely controlled device. If I remember correctly it was first designed to allow doctors thousands of miles away to perform procedures without having to be there in person. I don't know but it may also have some automatic functions. I would guess that the tools connected to the device move through a combination of remote control and automatic functions. Kind of like having an automatic transmission in a car. You still control the car, but the transmission is automatic. We don't call cars robots, but the basic automatic transmission is a hydraulic robot, not just a longer handle to the gears. Calling the device as a whole a robot is maybe a bit like calling a remote controlled car a robot, understandable to some and not others. notan Groups Links · To visit your group on the web, go to: achalasia/ · Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 I'd go along with calling it a "remote controlled device" with no problem... the phrase "surgical robot" makes it seem like Rosie, the maid robot on the old cartoon "The Jetsons"!!!! LOLDebbi I think for the most part this is a remotely controlled device. If I remember correctly it was first designed to allow doctors thousands of miles away to perform procedures without having to be there in person. I don't know but it may also have some automatic functions. I would guess that the tools connected to the device move through a combination of remote control and automatic functions. Kind of like having an automatic transmission in a car. You still control the car, but the transmission is automatic. We don't call cars robots, but the basic automatic transmission is a hydraulic robot, not just a longer handle to the gears. Calling the device as a whole a robot is maybe a bit like calling a remote controlled car a robot, understandable to some and not others.notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 Debbi Heiser wrote: >I'd go along with calling it a " remote controlled device " with no >problem... the phrase " surgical robot " makes it seem like Rosie, the maid >robot on the old cartoon " The Jetsons " !!!! I am sure it sounds that way to many. Also sounds like you could line up patients on a conveyor belt like factory work. Rosie would be better described as a crude android, (crude in looks anyway), but robot would also be correct, though not as specific. notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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