VERY Remote Robotic Surgery

The problem, of course, is that it is non-basic surgical skills which may be needed. This NEEMO project is a great step forward to being able to carry out surgery in isolated environments!

I suppose in efforts to be prepared for anything, being able to perform needed non-trivial surgery makes the list. The knowledge gained as part of this project could easily be useful in other applications.

Besides, anything that advances the state of robotic technology can be funded by my tax dollars any day.

I applaud the efforts of the NEEMO team and believe this is exciting technology. However, I do think that commentary about about a "wuss MD" is a little unnecessary and considerably too low-brow for your general level of sophistication.

Brant - the "wuss" comment was mean to be "in-character," comparing the usually elite physical condition of an astronaut with the stereotypically more docile doctor...and certainly not meant to be offensive.

Of course, it's been my experience that many surgeons (the ones being replaced by the robotic system here) are in fact quite tough themselves. Hours of standing in awkward positions while wrestling around the patient's innards takes some pretty good conditioning.

Anything that advances the scope of medical work is good investment in my opinion. With the rising cost of doctor's bills and medical insurance I believe that this would be cause for the medical field to seriously look at continueing to raise the cost of healthcare. While I have nothing to be repaired as of current, by a robot such as this; I would be willing to allow such a machine to be tested on myself. I'm also sure that there are a large number of other individuals who would do the same.

The problem with technology like this is it scares the general public. While a person can be smart, People as a whole are dumb and panic easily. I can almost guarantee that there will be some back woods individual say something ignorant along the lines of "Oh My GOD! the robots are taking over the world!" Sorry but the ignorant masses irratate me, because its the ignorant masses that hold technology back, And it is my firm belief that Technology like this should be improved so that it is avaible for use. an example of where a robot doctor would have been handy: 2/12/2005 a young man went through a window and severed his tendon artery and nerve in his hand. He waited 8 hours before a surgeon could do the surgery because the surgeon was busy seeing patients. If we had this technology already and implimented the surgery could have been done immediately.

As a Geek I embrace Technology like this, but, I'm sad to say I doubt it will be embraced on anytype of large scale anytime soon even after its perfected, due to the large number of the ignorant masses who think technology peaked at frozen pizza and bottled beer.

-Don