Robert Webster Archives
Team to develop steerable robotic needle for biopsies
Oct. 26, 2017—Collaboration between a mechanical engineer at Vanderbilt University and a pulmonologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has resulted in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant that will be used to develop a steerable robotic needle to safely biopsy hard-to-reach lung nodules.
Team developing imaging upgrade for robotic surgery
Oct. 12, 2017—Removing part of a kidney with minimally invasive robotic surgery rather than an entire kidney when operating for smaller tumors is often best for patients from a recovery and health standpoint, but many surgeons hesitate to do so because of the complexity of the robotic partial nephrectomy procedure.
How six cups of ground coffee can improve nose, throat surgery
Jun. 20, 2017—Vanderbilt engineers have designed a “granular jamming cap” filled with coffee grounds that can improve the accuracy of the sophisticated “GPS” system that surgeons use for nose and throat surgery.
Tiny mechanical wrist gives new dexterity to needlescopic surgery
Jul. 23, 2015—VIDEO» A Vanderbilt research team has successfully created a mechanical wrist less than 1/16th of an inch thick -- small enough to use in needlescopic surgery, the smallest form of minimally invasive surgery.
Brain surgery through the cheek
Oct. 15, 2014—Vanderbilt engineers have developed a surgical robot designed to perform brain surgery by entering through the cheek instead of the skull.
Vanderbilt Medicine: Robotics revolution
Sep. 11, 2013—In the foreseeable future, robots will be sticking steerable needles in your brain to remove blood clots; capsule robots will be crawling up your colon as a painless replacement for the colonoscopy; and ultra-miniaturized snake robots will remove tumors from your bladder and other body cavities.
Robot uses steerable needles to treat brain clots
Aug. 8, 2013—Surgery to relieve the damaging pressure caused by hemorrhaging in the brain is a perfect job for a robot. That is the basic premise of a new image-guided surgical system under development at Vanderbilt University.
NSF grant accelerates development of medical capsule robots
Dec. 6, 2012—Four Vanderbilt School of Engineering faculty members have been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create new tools, including a web-based modeling and simulation infrastructure, intended to help speed up the development of miniature medical capsule robots.
Making the Moment Last
May. 1, 2012—Video of Senior Day with Tom Brokaw and of Commencement will be streamed live on the Vanderbilt homepage. Three days of activities enrich the Commencement experience For many graduating seniors, Commencement passes in a blur of gowns and camera flashes and choreography. Add emotional parents, excitement – and not a little trepidation – about the...
Mechanical Engineering grad students take top honors at medical device conference
Apr. 13, 2012—Mechanical Engineering graduate students David Comber and Massimiliano Simi have won first and second place in the Three-in-Five competition at the Design of Medical Devices Conference.
App turns tablet into math aid for visually impaired students
Mar. 5, 2012—A mechanical engineering graduate student has created an app that turns Android tablets into an educational aid for teaching mathematics to visually impaired students.
Three faculty receive NSF career development awards
Feb. 15, 2011—Dickerson, Sung and Webster recognized for research including nanoparticles, regenerating blood vessels and finding options for 'inoperable' patients.