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Robotic Catheter Technology - Cleveland Clinic Predicts Big 2008 Innovation Impact

By Adam Pick on October 3, 2007

Drum roll, please ...

The innovation that will have the biggest impact on health care in 2008: robotic catheter technology.

That's the prediction of a panel of Cleveland Clinic doctors. Clinic doctors pared down a list of about 100 of today's coolest medical innovations to what they believe will be the most important in the coming year.

A robotic system -- the da Vinci System made by Intuitive Surgical Inc. in Sunnyvale, Calif. -- was the hit exhibit of this year's summit. Passersby took turns using a virtual reality-like station and viewfinder to manipulate a set of tiny tweezers to make stitches on a plastic model of a heart.

The Clinic's No. 1 innovation for next year is similar to the da Vinci System, except that the tiny tools are introduced to body cavities -- such as inside the heart -- through tube-like catheters.
Robotic catheter technology systems enable surgeons to work in places where their hands don't fit.

Such a flexible robotic system could be used for urology, cardiology, cardiac surgery and other specialty procedures, according to the Clinic panel.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

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Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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