March 9, 2015 - Toronto, Ontario
Canadarm, the robot that established Canada's proud international reputation for robotics innovation, has inspired several generations of scientists and engineers to develop new technologies for industry, medicine, and other applications.
Today, Industry Minister James Moore visited The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto to witness first hand how Canada's investment in space science research and development will be used to help drive improvements to surgical care for children.
KidsArm, a descendant of Canadarm, is the first image-guided robotic surgical arm in the world, specifically designed for surgery for children. KidsArm is a medical tool that will enable surgeons to safely and rapidly perform minimally invasive surgical procedures on children. It is capable of working in small and delicate spaces and will offer enhanced dexterity and precision.
The KidsArm robotic arm system was developed using technology built for Dextre and Canadarm2. It is the result of collaboration between SickKids' Centre for Image Guided Innovation and Therapeutic Intervention (CIGITI) and private-sector partners including MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), the Canadian company that built these Canadian world-renowned space robots. Other partners include Philips and other companies.
In 2010, SickKids received $10 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to support the development of KidsArm, MR-guided interventions including Focused Ultrasound and Virtual and Physical Surgical Simulation. Over the past five years, the CIGITI team has been hard at work in the research lab, building on the original KidsArm design. They are currently developing next-generation KidsArm robot prototypes, which will be ready for clinical use within the next three to five years.
Minister Moore took this opportunity to congratulate Dr. James Drake, Director of CIGITI and Head of Neurosurgery at SickKids, and the CIGITI team on the KidsArm robotic surgical system.
Media Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Telephone: 450-926-4370
E-mail: media@asc-csa.gc.ca
Website: www.asc-csa.gc.ca
Twitter: @csa_asc
Follow us on Social Media!
