neuroArm: A global first MRI-compatible image-guided robot for brain surgery
Project neuroArm Mission Statement: Improving Safety & Learning of Surgery by Merging Machine Precision with Digital Innovation
Our Story…
Project neuroArm began from an idea… of making surgery safer?
In 1997, the intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) project was established, with the goal of maximizing safe surgery through enabling MR imaging during the procedure. As moving the MRI was believed to be safer than moving the patient to the magnet, Dr. Garnette Sutherland collaborated with National Research Council, Winnipeg MB (then, Institute for Biodiagnostics IBD) to create the world’s first ceiling mounted iMRI system based on movable high field magnet. The technology, commercialized by IMRIS Inc. (IMRIS-deerfield, MN, USA) now has >75 installations worldwide.
The neuroArm born from the desire to perform precision microsurgery during the acquisition of MR images, became next intuitive innovation/evolution. Dr. Sutherland went on to consolidate collaboration with Macdonald Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) Brampton ON (Celebrated for: Canadarm/Canadarm2/Dextre and now Canadarm3) to create neuroArm, an image-guided MR compatible robot for brain surgery, another world’s first!
What Next…?
An Innovation Ecosystem for Future Sustainability, whereby :
novel ideas become discovery … ,
discovery feeds academic prowess … ,
academia mentors and inspires generations … ,
prototypes become products … ,
products become global phenomena … ,
global adoption generates capital support ……
…only to feed the roots of innovation @Project neuroArm/University of Calgary
And the cycle repeats - creating a Self-sustaining Innovation Loop
To explore, support, be part of us, please connect with us here:
CNN Sanjay Gupta MD profiles Dr. Garnette Sutherland and the neuroArm tele-surgical robot!