Surgery benefits from defense technology: dual use applications of Wright Laboratory Avionics technologies to Computer Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery (CAMIS)

Wright Laboratory Avionics Directorate is helping to assemble a team of defense and civilian researchers to transition defense avionics and related technologies to the medical community with the goal of improving the Computer Assisted Minimally invasive Surgery (CAMIS) concept. Key partners include Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI), a not-for-profit state-chartered agency, Cleveland Clinic Foundation hospital, and Picker International, medical equipment manufacturer. The CAMIS concept is in response to the fact that despite technical advances, most excision surgeries are exploratory rather than remedial. As a result, large incisions are required so the surgeon can first search for the "target" tissue and then, more cutting is needed to remove or destroy the "target". CAMIS is an opportunity to transition defense avionics technologies to help tackle a critical non-defense issue on the national agenda, health care.<>