ie: .. under the Knife on Cutting Edge

The improved surgical accuracy provided by computer-assisted surgery (is) well documented .. and I’m honored to introduce this cutting-edge technology to the Australian medical community,

said Dr. Jan Koenig of Mercy Medical Center (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) announcing PLUS Orthopedics’ first ever demonstration in an Australian hospital of the company’s PiGalileo(TM) Computer-Assisted Orthopedic Surgery system at the St. George Hospital campus (Sydney, Australia).

The PiGalileo(TM) Computer-Assisted Orthopedic Surgery System combines Computer-Assisted Surgery and robotic instrument positioning to assist the surgeon in total knee replacement.

Navigation and robotic technologies aid the surgeon in instrument positioning via critical real-time intra-operative feedback to help improve precision, thereby potentially better implant alignment and positioning.

Common cause of joint implant failure is implant misalignment, with a misalignment of only 3-degrees implicated in excessive wear on joint and implant failure.

Since its international release in 1999, there are over 80 PiGalileo(TM) systems installed throughout the world, which have supported more than 10,000 surgical procedures.

At right, patient, 64 years old Situation: After supracondylar correction at the right knee Implant: TC-PLUS™ Solution. Note the Terminator 1 implants. Cyborg in all but name. Mmmm, cyborg.

PS: PlusOrtho have a fabulous sitemap, a most excellent field maintenance manual on the human skeleton, its operation and repair.

Where have I seen that face before?
[see below]

Lego is a name we (usually boys) are fondly familiar with, and the truly ancient of you might silently mouth the name "Meccano" with reverence.

Twenty years ago Lego’s flashing beeping constructs were intricate blends of plastic keyed blocks and embedded circuitry. Building on those innovations, today’s smarter Lego has developed into all we can imagine two decades later, the result all we might hope.

Smarter, stronger and more intuitive than ever, LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ NXT is a robotics toolset that provides endless opportunities for robotics enthusiasts and LEGO builders ages 10 and older to build and program robots that do what they want.

A new "Quick Start" option makes it easy to successfully build and program a robot in 30 minutes.

I’m more than just a little impressed, I want one!

• All-new NXT Intelligent Brick with 32-bit microprocessor, more memory and FLASH
• 3 Interactive Servo motors feature built-in rotation sensors to align speed for precise control
• New sound sensor reacts to sound commands, patterns and tones
• New ultrasonic visual sensor responds to movement
• Improved touch sensor reacts to touch and release
• Improved light sensor detects different colors and light intensities
• 519 specially selected LEGO TECHNIC elements for sturdy and durable building and improved functionality and movement
• 4 input ports, 3 output ports and 7 6-wire cords
• Matrix display
• Piezo speaker
• USB 2.0 and Bluetooth support
• Easy-to-use PC and Mac compatible interface
• Intuitive, icon-based drag-and-drop program "building" environment

Sounds like the brother I always wanted.

And the face the Mindstorms Nxt pictured above reminded me of ?

None other than our friend from the classic 80s film, Johnny 5 in Short Circuit.

And doesn’t he just remind you of a PackBot below the waste?

TrakBots are all the rage in military circles, almost a case of life imitating art.

Rolling treads are a neat solution in these early days of robotics but ultimately we anticipate agile legged creatures.