微型机器人可做精密眼部手术

 

 

A newly-built machine uses extremely small instruments to perform eye operations.

The machine is reported to make fewer mistakes than doctors.

Robots are already used to perform some relatively¹ simple operations like a hysterectomy, when a doctor removes a woman’s uterus. But operating on the eye is more difficult than those kinds of surgeries.

A cataract² is a condition that many people develop as they get older. It makes the lens of the eye appear cloudy, making it more difficult for the patient to see. Doctors can remove cataracts³ through surgery.

One of the difficult parts of that surgery is getting close to the lens. The doctor has to work very carefully next to the capsule of the lens, without breaking it.

That is where Axsis technology comes in.

Axsis is one of the smallest robots for surgical⁴ use. It is the size of a soft drink can. The robot is equipped with instruments measuring only 1.8 millimeters in length.

A company called Cambridge Consultants⁵ developed the Axsis system. Chris Wagner is its head of advanced surgical systems. He says Axsis could help patients in need of corrective eye surgery.

Wagner says the company’s robotics product can help with this “extremely sensitive part of the operation” of getting close to the lens without breaking it. He says with robotics, and guidance and imaging during the operation, one can see where the robot is, and see where the lens is, along with other important body parts.

All of the machine’s operating parts are inside the device, he says. This is different from traditional surgical robots that operate on a long straight instrument.

Wagner says the joints⁶ have been moved inside, “so no arm is swinging around… and no arm motion has to conflict with another robot arm.”

Critics say cataract surgery is not very difficult, and the new machine may not be needed. But Wagner believes it shows that such small robotic devices could be used in many other ways.

“I think the fact that it’s a 1.8 millimeter diameter robot that’s operating on the size scale of the eye is exciting. This just opens the door to a number of different types of procedures that you can do that previously⁷ weren’t possible.”

That means the device could be used for treatments that require more attention to detail than human hands can provide.

Words in This Story

surgery – n. medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into someone’s body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts

capsule – n. a part of the eye lens

diameter – n. the distance through the center of something from one side to the other

scale – n. a range of levels of something from lowest to highest; the size or level of something especially in comparison to

1 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 cataract   

n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障

参考例句：

• He is an elderly gentleman who had had a cataract operation.他是一位曾经动过白内障手术的老人。
• The way is blocked by the tall cataract.高悬的大瀑布挡住了去路。

3 cataracts   

n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障

参考例句：

• The rotor cataracts water over the top of the machines. 回转轮将水从机器顶上注入。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Cataracts of rain flooded the streets. 倾盆大雨弄得街道淹水。 来自辞典例句

4 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

5 consultants   

顾问( consultant的名词复数 )； 高级顾问医生，会诊医生

参考例句：

• a firm of management consultants 管理咨询公司
• There're many consultants in hospital. 医院里有很多会诊医生。

6 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

7 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。