MDA to design pediatric surgery robot

Richmond, B.C. – MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates has received a $4.7 million contract with SickKids Hospital in Toronto, to develop KidsArm – a robotic, tele-operated surgery system specifically designed for operating on small children and babies. KidsArm is intended to be used by surgeons, in conjunction with a high precision real-time imaging technology, to reconnect delicate vessels such as veins, arteries, or intestines. The initial prototype developed under the contract will include an advanced miniature suturing capability to operate on tiny vessels.

‘Our fundamental strategy is to apply our advanced space robotics capabilities to highly demanding terrestrial challenges in the medical, nuclear, mining, and other sectors,” said Steve Oldham, vice president responsible for this business at MDA. “Once proven, we aim to become a partner in the commercialization of these advanced solutions.”

KidsArm is a project of the Centre for Image-Guided Innovation and Therapeutic Intervention (CIGITI) at SickKids. CIGITI is designed to foster collaboration between surgeons, engineers, imaging scientists and the private sector to develop innovative surgical technologies that incorporate “smart” surgical tools.

The research and development of KidsArm is funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
www.mdacorporation.com