Allison Okamura

Department of Mechanical Engineering

John Hopkins University

"Robot-Assisted Needle Steering"

Along with advances in imaging and visualization, a novel partnership between human surgeons and robotic devices is overcoming many of the limitations of traditional surgery. By extending human surgeons' ability to carry out surgical interventions more accurately and less invasively, surgical robotic systems will address a vital need to reduce costs, better clinical outcomes, and improve the efficiency of health care delivery. This talk will focus on one particular robot-assisted intervention technique: steering flexible needles through deformable tissue and around internal obstacles to precisely reach specified 3D targets. This research builds on emerging methods in robotics, imaging, and mechanics in order to optimize needle design, perform needle motion planning, and enable image-guided intra-operative needle control.

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
8:30 am - 5:30 pm

School of Engineering and Applied Science

University of Pennsylvania

210 South 33rd Street

Berger Auditorium

Skirkanich Hall

GRASP Lab - Levine Hall 4th Floor

For more information regarding our speaker please visit:

http://lcsr.jhu.edu/User%3AAokamura