i-Snake 'will transform surgery'
Experts are developing a flexible surgical robot, known as the i-Snake, which they say could revolutionise keyhole surgery
It could enable surgeons to do complex procedures previously possible only through more invasive techniques.
They envisage using the i-Snake - a long tube housing special motors, sensors and imaging tools - for heart bypass surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery has obvious advantages - it can mean smaller scars, reduced hospital stays and shorter recovery times.
"The cost benefits that i-Snake will introduce include earlier, cheaper and less invasive treatment, faster recovery and procedure times and intangible benefits through an increase in patient care and quality of life."
Dr Ted Bianco, director of technology transfer at the Wellcome Trust, said: "Gone are the days when the surgeon's knife ruled in the operating theatre. The future of surgery is in smart devices like i-Snake."
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk 