Automated Robotic Assistant for Surgeons

Computer Motion, Inc. (merged with Intuitive Surgical, Inc.) 

Sunnyvale, CA  
 

Robotic system that supports surgeons in a number of minimally invasive surgical procedures

• Voice activation for control of robotic arm
• Force sensitive retraction of robotic arm
• Implemented high performance multiprocessor control system for robotic
• Demonstrated precise force control in 8 degree of freedom robot

• Over 300 units sold of early models providing sales revenue over $6 million
• Potential application in nearly one million endoscopic procedures performed each year in the U.S. alone
• Merged with Intuitive Surgical to form the leader in operative surgical assistants

• Advanced versions of the robotic surgical assistant may someday carry out surgical procedures in space under the direction of surgeons on the Earth

Return to NASA SBIR Success Listings