Abstract: An automated system for delivery of seeds or other therapeutic or diagnostic capsules to internal organs of the patient's body for radiation brachytherapy includes a needling mechanism, a 2DOF robot, an ultrasound probe driver, a 5DOF passive platform, and an easy lock cart. The needling mechanism implants radioisotope seeds by its cannula and stylet driven by two moving stages pushed by DC motors with ball screw transmission. Force sensors are included for detecting insertion forces and bending force. In another embodiment, the needle is rotated for insertion into the patient and can also be used for tissue removal for biopsy. The two embodiments are usable together or separately.

Abstract: An anorectal probe assembly comprising an anorectal probe, a sonar penetration balloon mounted to said probe, said balloon arranged to receive water to inflate within the rectal cavity a sigmoidscope having a bore into which the probe and balloon have sliding engagement and an adaptor having an anus penetration portion for insertion into the anus and an external portion mounted to the penetration portion wherein the adaptor includes a conduit extending from the penetration portion to the external portion such that on penetration of the anus, the conduit provides fluid communication between the rectal cavity and the external portion, said conduit further connectable to a vacuum source.

Abstract: A holding structure holds a biopsy needle and a HIFU transducer to allow smooth and accurate delivery of the HIFU beam at the interface of the liver, where bleeding will occur. This manipulator structure performs the biopsy and HIFU through the percutaneous approach. In addition, the procedure is imaged by an imaging ultrasound probe. The imaging ultrasound probe can track the needle entry site even when needle has been removed. The HIFU transducer fires a short pulse of HIFU in the needle tract to cause coagulation and stop bleeding.

Abstract: A method of treatment, clinical treatment assembly, robotic manipulator and controlling arrangements for the treatment of cancers are described. The invention has particular application in the treatment of breast cancer. A robotic manipulator (18) carries a jig assembly (30). The jig assembly (30) includes an array of treatment probes (52, 54, 56) and a single identification/diagnostic probe (58). The probes can be moved by the robotic manipulator (18) in three directions (x, y, ?). A subject breast tissue is received in a tank (16) through an operating window (14), and the robotic manipulator (18) is to firstly determine the site of a tumor in the breast tissue. Once the tumor has been located by use of the identification/diagnostic probe (58), the treatment probes (52, 54, 56) are used to ablate the tumor by the superposition of ultrasonic waves at a focal region. A series of such lesions may be performed in sequence to traverse the full extent of the tumor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to insert a needle through a predetermined trajectory and with a predetermined depth, in order to reach a target accurately within soft tissue, under ultrasound imaging guidance. The invention can be applied to carry out, for example, prostate biopsy, or prostate brachytherapy. The apparatus can guide a biopsy needle into defined sites in the prostate gland. A conical approach is used to reach the prostate through one or more pivot points on the perineal wall. The biopsy needle penetrates the patient's skin through the pivot point for multiple cores. The apparatus holds a needle sheath with two ball joints. The orientation of the needle sheath is controlled by locking the front ball joint at the pivot point, and moving the back ball joint on a virtual plane. The biopsy needle is inserted manually through the needle sheath. The depth of the insertion is controlled by the position of the stopper on the biopsy gun holder.

Abstract: A robotic endoscope for performing endoscopic procedures in a tubular organ comprising: (a) a plurality of segments, connected together by a plurality of flexible articulated joints, having a distal end; (b) a plurality of flexible linear actuators attached, skewed sideways with respect to the longitudinal axis of said robot, circumferentially round each segment; (c) a central cavity running longitudinally through said robotic endoscope which houses a plurality of optical fibres, a water/air hose, an instrumentation channel and a plurality of electrical wires associated with an imaging means being mounted at the distal end of the robotic endoscope; and (d) a network of tributary channels for the distribution of pressure to said linear actuators. The present invention is also applicable to an autonomous pipe robot.

Abstract: A computerised boundary estimation technique (using prostate as an example) in medical images (ultrasound in particular), called Radial Bas-Relief. An imaging probe can be carried by a robot and shares the same reference frame as the robot. The prostate is scanned and the ultrasound images are fed into a computer which provides computational images processing. Such a method is employed to allow a quick and robust extract of the boundary of interest from transverse images taken transurethrally or transrectally.

Abstract: An articulated arm is disclosed which can be used to firmly support and position a variety of medical tools, including surgical or diagnostic instruments flexibly in space. Though some of its sub-assemblies may be computer controlled, thus autonomous in accordance to some pre-programmed sequence, manual control is also possible. When its sub-assemblies are suitably controlled using computer software, and with a suitable cutting instrument, the arm is capable of generating a barrel shape cavity or, for that matter, any desired shape of cavity (or treatment volume) that is within the work envelope of the arm. The ideal position of the focal point is dynamically variable as required, either with respect to the tool or the absolute frame of reference, during an intervention. A suitable type of intervention is minimally invasive surgery (MIS).