Robotic arm for breast exams

Women living in remote areas who don’t have easy access to health care will someday be able to have a breast exam thanks to robotic technology being developed at Michigan State University.

A health-care provider will slip the hand into a glove-like instrument to move the robotic arm that is with the patient in a remote location.

"That arm, which actually looks like a hand, is equipped with sensors," explained Carol Slomski, at MSU. "As the hand touches the patient, the sensation from this touch comes back into my hand. When the robotic fingers feel a lump or some other abnormality, I also feel it."

The robotic hand will also be equipped with an ultrasound transducer that will transmit back to the health-care provider an image of what he or she is feeling. The system also will have video and audio capabilities, so patient and physician can directly communicate.

With a potential shortage of surgeons looming, technology such as this will make life easier for patient and health-care provider. "If a surgeon located in a small town has the technology to access someone at a bigger hospital or clinic, this could be a tremendous help for him or her and the patient," said Slomski.

Via FutureWire < Engineer Online and Press Release.