Howdy.
Moving on to medical technology.
Go here. Watch this. No words from me until Wednesday.
WARNING: There is footage of actual operations in this video. Look away if you squeamish during those parts.
http://www.ted.com/talks/catherine_mohr_surgery_s_past_present_and_robotic_future.html
Wednesday edit
My words for the week: READ THEM ALL.
I thought I would get a little personal this week. Pretty recently the Lanham household was visited by the big C word. Cancer. Scary just to look at isn't it? Kinda makes my skin crawl just seeing it sitting there.
Anyway, Mr. L (who I lovingly refer to as Better Half) was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he had a radical robotic prostatectomy. That's right, ROBOTIC. Oh the technology implications . . . His surgeon actually sat ACROSS THE ROOM as he operated on Mr. L! Just like a video game. He has these goggles he looks into and he moves his thumbs and across the room the robotic arms that were INSIDE MY HUSBAND proceeded to do all the things that surgeons used to do the old way. Except when he was done, Mr. L only had 5 small incisions instead of one great big huge one. MUCH faster recovery time.
What Catherine Mohr DIDN'T tell you in that video is that she's one of the inventors of the DaVinci system (girl power!).
She also didn't mention that there are about 2600 DaVinci robots in use in this country at the cost of about $2 million apiece, plus about $300,000 per year for maintenance. The math is staggering.
So go take a look at the pictures of the robot. Also, take a look at the article about Catherine Mohr (girl power!), who is one of the designers of the Da Vinci system.
For credit this week you may 1) give an opinion about the use of the robot. You may 2) reference another article about the robot (please leave me a link). You may 3) give me an opinion about Catherine Mohr. You may also 4) reply to someone else's post.
Please remember: you must advance the discussion in some manner to get credit. "That's cool" or "I like that" is not advancing the discussion. Not now, not in May at the end of the year. You must TELL ME WHY!
http://tinyurl.com/2mhxoh
http://singularityhub.com/2009/07/27/catherine-mohr-promises-more-robotic-surgery/
66 comments:
I believe that this robotic surgery thing could be pretty useful....if it wasn't so expensive. I'm all for improved surgery technology, but the da Vinci robot, priced at TWO MILLION EACH (not including maintenance costs), doesn't seem like it would help the income of the average hospital (or the wages of its employees, for that matter).
-Oliver, 1st period
Despite all the great work that these robots seem to be doing for surgery, I'm still left wondering how much this approach has been tested. What happens when these machines start making silly mistakes that would not have otherwise been made by humans?
Culpepper, 1st Period
This robot is something amazing. Though the cost of it is high, and it will require new training to be able to use it effectively, I think that it is well worth the expense. This will help surgeons to be able to do more things than they have ever been able to do before - the EndoWrist (sp?) technology has more range of motion than a human! It can literally sew a blood vessel onto a beating heart. Something that precise is a need when we have cancers sometimes that are nearly impossible to get to. I had an aunt who had a tumor in her brain, considered inoperable because the surgeon didn't think he could get to it without causing her severe brain damage. I believe that she would be alive today if this technology had been around when she needed it. Hopefully, the robot will continue to improve so that others will not share the same fate.
This robot is something amazing. Though the cost of it is high, and it will require new training to be able to use it effectively, I think that it is well worth the expense. This will help surgeons to be able to do more things than they have ever been able to do before - the EndoWrist (sp?) technology has more range of motion than a human! It can literally sew a blood vessel onto a beating heart. Something that precise is a need when we have cancers sometimes that are nearly impossible to get to. I had an aunt who had a tumor in her brain, considered inoperable because the surgeon didn't think he could get to it without causing her severe brain damage. I believe that she would be alive today if this technology had been around when she needed it. Hopefully, the robot will continue to improve so that others will not share the same fate.
-McClanahan, 1st period
Honestly, in my opinion, I wouldn't fully trust the da Vinci robot to perform surgical functions upon me. Yes, I think that its definitely a great advancement in medical technology, however, you can't rely on one machine to do the work of a human because a million things could possibly go wrong while the machine functions throughout the human body. I also think that the prices of these specific surgeries are absolutely outrageous hitting about 1 million in medical expenses.
-Heyn, 1st period
I think the robotic surgery is great because It's vey efficient and it seems to give awesome results.I really love the fact that the spot you want to work on glows because I know it's really helpful for those who NEED surgery. I mean this is probably the best advancement. I hope Catherine Mohr can keep coming up with better technology in the medical field because unlike other technology this is extremely useful and essential for some of us.
-Barrios, 1st period
I think Catherine Mohr is an extremely smart woman. She is also very good at giving presentations from what I saw. Catherine wants to make surgery better for the patients undergoing it. She is honestly trying to advance the medical industry, not for her own personal gain but for everyone.
Eason, 1st Period :D
although the machines are expensive I think its a great way to preform surgery because its more precise and the inscisions are smaller therefore the recovery time is faster
Conner Covington
2nd period
I think that the robotic surgery is more useful than the regular on hands surgery. simply because the robot can see things the eye cant. now doctors don't have to worry about getting blood all over them or having to wash their hands all the time. but what if the machine messes up in the middle of a procedure? whats next?
Johnson,2nd
The use of smaller incisions is a great idea, it takes a lower amount of time to heal and the surgery goes a lot quicker if don't have to make a big incision and then sow it back up after countless hours of surgery. Plus, the idea of highlighting the cancer/tumor cells that way you know where to exactly go is a great idea and is a definite perk of this surgery robot.(Kadence 2nd period)
I love that they made the robot. I say this because my mother use to have a lot of health issues therefore she had more than five surgeries. The doctors had a hard time in finding the right tool in order to do the surgery... she was on the edge of death... so I love they made this robot because now if she ever needs medical care again I'll be happy that she's getting the best treatment possible.
-Coen, 2nd
I think that just as -McClanahan, 1st period believes this new technology has many beneficial advancements that a human alone does not and in reference to Culpepper, 1st Period i would like to say that the reason we still have humans manning these robots not some pre-programmed surgery is to prevent the errors that can be made by the machine.
-Torres Per2
I like how surgery has become a lot more modern than the way it used to be. I mean, sure it's very efficient and helpful in many ways such as recovery, but it's all still a little sketchy to me because what'll happen when the day comes where these machines start to glitch out and cause life-threatening mistakes?
~Lopez, 2nd period
Even though it's extremely expensive, I believe it's one of the greatest inventions ever made. I think Catherine Mohr is a genius. For someone to create a machine such as this to minimize all of the risks of surgery, she's freaking awesome. She made the job of doctors a lot easier. For all hospitals, this is a product worth buying.
Laronda Steadham, 2nd Period
The use of the robot for surgeries, even though it is extraordinary, is at a risk. Many things could go wrong, but if the robot helps with recoveries then it helps in more ways than one. It is amazing, the robot, but what if something goes wrong during a procedure? OR What about the cost of the thing? A good way to show the technological development of our society.
Delagarza, 2nd. Period
I think Catherine Mohr has good intentions at heart but.. something was a little off about her to me like how in her speech about robotic surgery she never mentioned the downsides or what it would take for the Da Vinci system and her new plans for robotic surgery to come to life, such as the costs. The more the machine would cost that means the surgery patients would have to pay more for the surgery, and that only benefits the hospital, not the patients. So in my opinion Mohr was being somewhat manipulative in her speech in glorifying the Da Vinci system and her new invention.
Slide, 2nd period
I believe that the robot is a great invention, but the cost is way to high . it some up to be more then 2 million dollar for each one that's way to much were all ready in debt and that going to make that way deeper than what it is.
Jacorey , 2nd Period
Wow Slide. Very interesting. No, she DIDNT go into any downsides and her speech WAS probably a bit manipulative. Did you find it odd that she never mentioned that she was an inventor?
My thought about the robotic surgery is amazing and that Catherine Mohr is a very intelligent woman to make such a device that can do surgery. I agree with Heyn in 1st period I wouldn't really want it to be used on me either even though it is an amazing machine. It's also very outrages in price and plus with the maintenance cost.
Jones 2nd
I think that the da Vinci robot is a miracle maker in that it can save lives and perform operations that surgeons have never been able to perform before. As well as keep the entering insertion will be multiple small cuts rather than one huge one. This will make it much more easier to recover for patients, and give the surgeons a piece of mind knowing that they won't give the patient a severe blood loss. The cost of this robot is well worth the reward of what it gives to people with complicated problems.
-Irwin, 2nd period
Graded. Good thoughts. Keep going!
I think that this robotic surgery could be pretty useful.If it wasn't so expensive it would be a great thing and very much used.The da Vinci robot, priced at two million without maintence , doesn't seem like it would help the cost of an average hospital. nevertheless I think this is a great and very useful idea therefore if it wasn't so much for the expenses.
walker,taylor 7th period
I think that this robotic surgery could be pretty useful.If it wasn't so expensive it would be a great thing and very much used.The da Vinci robot, priced at two million without maintence , doesn't seem like it would help the cost of an average hospital. nevertheless I think this is a great and very useful idea therefore if it wasn't so much for the expenses.
walker,taylor 7th period
I think that they should put this new tech into effect if it is that revolutionary then we should use it because it can save more lives if we use this technology because it gives doctors more precise hands and the6 r less likely to mess up and say nick and artery and I also think that they should give out grants for getting this technology so more hospitals have this tech and more people can have surgery with this tech so they are safer than they would be without it
- Devon 7th
This robot is amazing , but the bad part that I see is that its extremely expensive and what if the da Vinci robot runs out of battery or quits or something bad happens during the operation? that will consume time and pay. I do like it that its advanced technology but people will just start to be surgeons just to play with it like if it was a video game and not realize that your curing someone's life and that its serious.
-Ibanez, 7th period
The robot surgeon should really be mass produced in order to reduce cost and Increase labor and the demand for them. having one in every hospital would call for more jobs to produce them, less cost for the actual machines due to supply and demand, etc. This seems like a really prominent thing and like it's technology is very promising. I believe this could definitely go somewhere in the medicine and operation world.
-Zach 7th
Aaron good thought! The DaVinci has it's own backup generator.
The Robot is Great Really But Honestly At What Cost?I Mean Your Throwing $2 Mills Away For One Robot And Another $300 For Its Maintenance?? I Mean THe Robot Is Perfect For The Medical World But To Me It Should Be a Lot Less Cause Thats About... Too Much!! But If It Works It Works Right!
Teal 7th
I would rather the de Vinci robot unlike a regular procedure. The recovery time is much quicker. Although we really don't know how efficient the machine works I would still prefer it. It's very expensive. Two million dollars? That's a lot not considering the maintenance which is an extra $300,000. For that much it better work.
I would rather the de Vinci robot unlike a regular procedure. The recovery time is much quicker. Although we really don't know how efficient the machine works I would still prefer it. It's very expensive. Two million dollars? That's a lot not considering the maintenance which is an extra $300,000. For that much it better work.
-Wright, 7th
The Robot is Great Really But Honestly At What Cost?I Mean Your Throwing $2 Mills Away For One Robot And Another $300 For Its Maintenance?? I Mean THe Robot Is Perfect For The Medical World But To Me It Should Be a Lot Less Cause Thats About... Too Much!! But If It Works It Works Right! Is It Weird That Shouldnt Mention That Cause I Mean Its Not About The Price At All The Amount Of Lives Being Saved Is What Matters But I Wonder How Many Peeps In The TED Talk Could Actually Buy One Or More Of Those With No Problem But Again That Robot+1up=A Happy Person!
Teal 7th
I feel that the Da Vinci Surgical System is a revolutionary innovation for the medical industry. The use of this robotic surgery can prove to be more efficient and more beneficial to the patient because now, the patient only needs about 3 to five small incisions rather than one giant incision. That means that the patient can heal from the surgery much faster than if they would have had manual surgery. The only drawback about this robot is that it is very costly to maintain and operate. A single machine costs roughly TWO MILLION DOLLARS and there is also about $300,000 worth of yearly maintenance. But after seeing some results from the use of this robot, I feel that it is worth every penny in trying to save someone's life because there is no price on life. On two separate occasions, my aunt's and uncle's kids were diagnosed with cancer and they lost there lives to it. If this technology would have been available back then, then maybe they would still be alive today. All I can say is that it is a very terrifying and melancholy feeling to see someone struggle with diseases like cancer, so I feel that the Da Vince robot can revolutionize the way we treat surgery to help save the lives of others.
Your Favorite Mexican, 7th Pd. (~^_^)
In my opinion, The da Vinchi Surgical system is really interesting and looks very difficult to manage. Something I wonder is how long did this take for this system to do the things it does? Of course too long with it being so expensive, Right? I honestly think this helps a lot with the doctors, but then again I would be afraid. The reason why is because, a lot of machines cannot be trusted. You never know what might happen, and the smallest thing can MESS everything up. Overall, reading and listening about all the things it does, I would want to try it, because with me already learning and studying different obstacles in the medical field, this is something very interesting to me.:)
Garcia, 7th pd
I agree with the person who believes that robotic surgery could be useful but I have some concerns. Like humans, machines are not perfect though they are more efficient than a human. What if something goes wrong? Will the machine be able to revive the patient if they flatline? I think advanced surgery technology is the future. To be priced at 2 million for each with an extra 300 thousand for repairs if it messes up, now that's just preposterous.
Macon-7th
In my opinion, the da Vinci surgical robot is a great system to help people that for example have cancer or other types of illness. These robots costs about 2 million dollars each and that will affect the government if he supply's each of the Hospitals in the USA. Also, if these robots are too expensive, then most likely they are going to charge much more for the surgery.
Venegas, 7th
to teal I think that you are wrong because first of all you are not throwing away money you are saving life in an easier way and maybe safer. Also it will be easier for doctors to use because it has many different thing all in one. And the maintenance its part of keeping it in good shape. So are you going to go cheap or and do it a harder way or just get the machine and be better.
kevin sanchez
7th
Graded
Opinion about the robot:
Thinking about having four little robot arms stuck into my body makes me want to throw up and die. But thinking about being cut open and having my skin pinned back with my organs just hanging out in the fresh air makes me feel even worse.
I'm amazed by the fact that the robot exists, much less works. I would much rather have 4 robot arms than exposed insides.
I hope Mr. L is all better; cancer sucks.
-SWalker 7th
I honestly like the idea of using robots to do surgeries because robots can go further into the human body than a normal surgeon can and be more precise. The robot can sow a blood vessel onto a beating heart which a normal surgeon will find very improbable or impossible with out any complications. I firmly believe that the robotic surgery is heading places that will benefit us all at one point in our lives and I'm glad because of that
- Cano, 7th
In my opinion, this Robotic surgery is really useful and amazing! It seems to show you the results. If this technology had been around in my grandma and grandpa is case, hopefully, he/she would be alive till today. Technology is really helpful, useful, plus it helps out the doctors!
Wah,7th period
I probably think this has much potential from here to the medical business, but it also has as much chance for it to screw up than it wouldn't. This is of course based on thought of it being a robot, a machine, not flawless. Despite this not even humans are perfect at anything. Although I don't thoroughly enjoy ranting on about the negatives how about somehow we could incorporate the hands and eyes into virtual reality so we could preform operations with maybe with the Oculus based technology, no not that far.Yet! YOLO FINISHED
-Roland G
7th Period
I probably think this has much potential from here to the medical business, but it also has as much chance for it to screw up than it wouldn't. This is of course based on thought of it being a robot, a machine, not flawless. Despite this not even humans are perfect at anything. Although I don't thoroughly enjoy ranting on about the negatives how about somehow we could incorporate the hands and eyes into virtual reality so we could preform operations with maybe with the Oculus based technology, no not that far.Yet! YOLO FINISHED
-Roland G
7th Period
I probably think this has much potential from here to the medical business, but it also has as much chance for it to screw up than it wouldn't. This is of course based on thought of it being a robot, a machine, not flawless. Despite this not even humans are perfect at anything. Although I don't thoroughly enjoy ranting on about the negatives how about somehow we could incorporate the hands and eyes into virtual reality so we could preform operations with maybe with the Oculus based technology, no not that far.Yet! YOLO FINISHED
-Roland G
7th Period
I probably think this has much potential from here to the medical business, but it also has as much chance for it to screw up than it wouldn't. This is of course based on thought of it being a robot, a machine, not flawless. Despite this not even humans are perfect at anything. Although I don't thoroughly enjoy ranting on about the negatives how about somehow we could incorporate the hands and eyes into virtual reality so we could preform operations with maybe with the Oculus based technology, no not that far.Yet! YOLO FINISHED
-Roland G
7th Period
I probably think this has much potential from here to the medical business, but it also has as much chance for it to screw up than it wouldn't. This is of course based on thought of it being a robot, a machine, not flawless. Despite this not even humans are perfect at anything. Although I don't thoroughly enjoy ranting on about the negatives how about somehow we could incorporate the hands and eyes into virtual reality so we could preform operations with maybe with the Oculus based technology, no not that far.Yet! YOLO FINISHED
-Roland G
7th Period
Dezmond, I think that while 2 million dollars may seem like a lot to you, it is actually a reasonable price for a machine so powerful and in such demand. 2 million dollars is probably petty cash for big cancer facilities like md Anderson and even for smaller places like somewhere more local, it would eventually pay for itself. Have you seen those doctor bills recently? I think that it is an amazing piece of technology and is definitely a positive step in the future from previous surgery methods.
Denton 7th
Honestly the Robotic surgery would be and is very useful I have actually had surgery with one of these machines so they are useful I was able to get back to my normal life within a week but there is a downside to this and this is the expensive cost it takes to get these machines and the cost of maintaining the machines.
T-Dawg 8th period
I think that Catherine Mohr Is an extremely intelligent woman to design the amazing piece of technology which is a major advancement in medical technology. She is not only amazingly smart but also very modest because in the video she did not even mention that she was the one who designed the machine one time!
Cold 8th
I think this was really interesting , and that I absolutely love the robots because it helps do more surgical things and go farther in the body to fix things that human would not be able to go in the body to do ! the robots a very good idea , even tho it is very expensive !
sweat 8th period
I think that the invention of the da Vinci robot surgeon is awesome especially because it can work in super small cuts and reach long distances in the body , so it can fix people without cutting and tearing them up in the first place.
D'Andre 8th
Graded
I think this is great. The technology, and that Mr. L was able to come back from this. surgeons are able to perform surgeries without the same amount of trauma as they used to cause with large incisions. With the DaVinci, the operations don't seem quite as terrifying, knowing that the incision will be MUCH smaller, reducing infection risks and recovery time. My dad had cancer, and I wish he had had something similar to this, because it took him a very long time to recover from the large incision made in his back. He wouldn't have had to suffer as he did.
[happy ending: he's ok now. as we hope he stays]
Carrasco, 8th hr
The machine even though it has a very high cost, that comes with all new techs. The robot is still controlled by a doctor so the likely hood of a failure of the robot. If I had to get surgery I would use this robot, but that may be, because I'm a robotics freak.
-Taylor 8th
I can believe that the da Vinci robot, despite its high price will be a great addition to the medical field. Not only would be able to track down cancer in the patient but we can minimize the incisions and the time it takes for them heal. Though I have to think what would happen if the machine got a virus? Would we blame the surgeon or the machine?
Gipson, 8th Period
I very cautiously support the use of these robots. To put it simply, they do the job better, but I feel there are far more risks involved. Human surgeons have been operating for thousands of years, recently with an incredible degree of success. Medical technology has improved amazingly, and in the hand of a human, it is brilliant.
The next logical step seems only to remove the human aspect, or, as the Da Vinci system works, with a guided system.
However, I point out that six times out of ten, my toaster fails to appropriately toast my bread in the morning. Technology, in short, is not perfect, perhaps even less perfect than a human. There is no substitute for the direct brain-to-hand reaction time of a human. Put the machine in the middle, and you now have a brain-to-hand-to-machine reaction time. Robotics malfunction, and while humans are far from perfect, I would simply trust them more.
Kwiatkowski, Eighth
I think that this robotic surgery could actually be helpful for both the patients and the surgeons because for the patients it can help by the surgeons being able to see the cancer much better and be able to handle it better and for the surgeons it can help because they can see more better and also that it they don't have to worry about getting cut and get affected by it
Ferguson, 8th period
I think that the da Vinci surgical robot is a improvement in the surgical world because it only makes 5 little incisions that heal more faster that one big incision. I think that the robot is a good way to take the surgical world to a new level because it may cost $2 million apiece, plus about $300,000 per year for maintenance. but is worth every penny to help people and save there life because life doesn't have a price and also not having a big incision that takes a long time to heal but having 5 to 3 incisions that heal quicker than one big incision. I think that Catherine Mohr is a very important person just like the rest of the creators to create this innovating machine that help surgeons and the patients to feel better and have less fatigue for doing a surgery or being the patient having the surgery done on them I think that this robot will take the ways that surgeons and people look at the medical world and the technological world by combining them together and saving peoples life one robot at a time.
- Castro (~^_^~.) 8th period
l believe the robot would be useful but a lot of people will not get to use it but its a great invent
Dillion Sanches
8pd
I agree with Ryan technology always seems to have glitches but then again there better not be glitches for 2 million start up and 300,000 a month but any how what about power outages
just sayin
Ben Blough 8th
I thought the robots were quite amazing. I was very impressed with it. Because its just going to save a lot more life's in the future so I thought it was awesome.
Hill 2nd period
In reply to Heyn in first period; yes, although the DaVinci could potentially be dangerous, this machine is a well tuned, extremely well tested creation made just for the purpose of surgery. Honestly,the DaVinci has a much lower risk of harming you than the Surgeon would simply prying around inside of you themself. Now, I'm accounting for the fact that you realize that every year, hundreds of people die from mistakes by medical professionals while preforming surgery, and that, just as you said "a million things could go wrong." Also, you have to take into account the decades of research and testing put into creating these machines. They are built for the sole purpose of surgery, and most robots don't have the inclination to just go berserk and mess up like humans do. If you can trust machines to handle your money, and you can trust machines to make all of the products you use, what makes it so absurd to trust a machine to preform surgery? In all reality, this will more than likely become the future of all surgeries, and it will help stop the spread of infection and the need for long recuperating processes after surgeries. These machines are leading to a new era of robotic health care that could very well lead to solving health problems once thought impossible to fix, just as McLanahan (1st period) said in their comment. It seems that in a life or death situation, like most surgeries are, one can't be too picky, wouldn't you say?
-Labbit, 8th
Graded and closed
Although the robot is very expensive it would be a great way to perform surgery. Another thing is the recovery is quick and the machine is more precise. Its a brilliant idea but then again it could be a terrible idea due to if the machine started to mess up and make mistakes.
Clifton 1st period
On the Da Vinci robot, I believe it's an extraordinary leap in medicine and technology as a whole. The idea that not only do we now have such delicate machines, but they can also function in such precise conditions and save a lot of lives. I'm excited to see how many more advances we can make with technology in the coming years.
Cespedes -8th
I think that the robotic surgery could be pretty helpful and mitht be the future if it werent for the cost of these machines.
-Natepoleon
2nd Period
i think it is cool that (the better half)got surgery because he is now one of the recent success stories of the new devinci robot and i just think that the new robots are cool because it takes away some of the need for sterilization and takes away the need for hands touching inside another persons body if they are uncomfortable with that
-Devon Corley 7th
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