You’ve heard of non-invasive surgery, but wow, has technology been catapulted to a whole new level! The Gorilla, having once been a medical student himself, always gets excited whenever he hears about new cutting-edge medical breakthroughs, and this time is no exception! Experts at Imperial College London are developing a new flexible surgical “robot” known as the i-Snake which will revolutionize non-invasive key-hole surgery as we know it.
It is an incredible new product, which will be able to perform non-invasive surgery on patients with various problems. The amazing capabilities of this incredible robot include the ability perform more complex procedures previously possible only through more invasive techniques. So what is it, you ask? Well, it very much looks like it’s name; it’s a long tube housing special motors, sensors, and imaging tools - primarily for heart bypass surgery- but can also be used to diagnose problems with the gut and bowel. By acting like the surgeon’s hands and eyes, the i-Snake will be able to diagnose problems in hard to reach places, which would otherwise require invasive techniques.
The Gorilla believes that the future of surgeries could very well be in non-invasive procedures. This means less scarring, less pain, and quicker recovery times- thus resulting in shorter hospital stays and lower costs to patients! Health minister and surgeon Lord Darzi, who is deeply involved in the development of the i-Snake said: “The unrivalled imaging and sensing capabilities, coupled with the accessibility and sensitivity of i-Snake, will enable more complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures than are currently possible.” Let’s hope he’s right folks because anything that makes those dreaded medical procedure a little more tolerable is all right by the Gorilla!