Robot shoots home X-rays
|
Scott Banks, a University of Florida engineer has designed a robot to take X-ray video of sufferers of orthopaedic injuries as they walk, climb stairs, or pursue other normal activities.
"Our goal is come up with a way to observe and measure how joints are moving when people are actually using them," Banks said. "We think this will be tremendously powerful, not only for research but also in the clinical setting as well."
Banks hopes his system – that uses two robots: one robot to shoot the X-ray video and another to hold the image sensor — will lead to a radical improvement. The current working prototype, which has a one-metre mechanical arm, is a commercial product normally used in robotically assisted surgeries and silicon chip manufacturing that have been re-engineered. The robot can shadow a person’s knee, shoulder or other joint with its hand as he or she moves. In its completed form, the hand will hold lightweight equipment capable of shooting X-rays, while another robot will hold the sensor that captures images of the body as moving videos. Although the robots will be attached to a fixed base, there is room for a person to move around normally within their reach. And in the future, said Banks, "we could put these robots on wheels and they could follow you around." Via The Engineer. Press release. |
1 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Robot shoots home X-rays.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/5829
An engineer at the University of Florida has developed a robotic system that can take X-Ray video of people suffering from physical injuries while at home. The current X-ray technologies are effective, but could be moreso with the ability to... Read More
Aren't x-rays bad for you ?
Woohoo, just what we need, robots with cancer causing radiation to follow us around! Sounds great.
this is possibly the worst idea I've ever heard of...I wonder if it's funded by a government grant?
The graduate program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Campus is also working on a similar project that is capable of tracking a person's movements while taking x-rays of the body in motion. Uses feedback controllers and sonar.
Surely if it was really neccassary, a doc could have the patient move their limb/joint under fluoroscopy, where they can get better quality footage of the joint in motion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/Fluoroscopy
But that doesn't involve robots.
Exactly.. it doesnt involve robots. Therefore, it is uncool.
I think it is a great idea. Specially for elderly persons(in this case my mother) that cannot leave her house. Republic of Panama. Also it seems to potentially be a good business.
I think it is a great idea. Specially for elderly persons(in this case my mother) that cannot leave her house. Republic of Panama. Also it seems to potentially be a good business.
Seems a cool idea,
But I can not think of any disease that dynamic tube&sensor makes diagnosis easier than fluroscopy or static x-ray. IMHO this robot will make diagnosis more trouble some than making it easier.
Nevit
To all the critics, I actually saw this thing once, and it was pretty interesting. It is not meant to replace a static x-ray machine. It is meant for watching how knee replacements and the like operate when they are implanted, because that is something you can't really do with off the shelf xrays. And i think it is largely for research purposes, ie watching implants in actual motion to so better ones can be developed.
This is a great idea, sure x-rays are strong when you use film, but when you use a digital x-rays the strength of the radiation is much less, and you get a better picture. Can't think of where this could be useful? Osteoarthritis, FPPS, and a host of other motion related joint disorders/injuries. Expect every doctor who specializes in sports injuries to have one as soon as it's market ready, and probably every team in major league sports.
Health issues... The idea is cool, but I think it is unsafe...