Media Advisory

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Test drive new robot at CSTAR

(LONDON, Ontario) CSTAR (Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics) will be holding an open house for the media to test drive Intuitive Surgical's new da Vinci robotic surgical system. The four-armed da Vinci robot is similar to the da Vinci robot that CSTAR will be using in clinical research and patient care. There are only 11 of these four-armed robots in the world. This is the media's opportunity to have hands-on experience with this cutting-edge technology that is revolutionizing patient care.

The open house is part of a two-day event, sponsored by Minogue Medical Inc., the Canadian distributor of the da Vinci robotic surgical system, to showcase the robot to staff and physicians, university medical and senior science students, and the community. The public is invited to come and see the robot on Saturday, September 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the same location.

By integrating robotic technology with surgical skill, the da Vinci robot enables surgeons to perform better surgery. Robotic surgery is minimally invasive, which benefits the patient in many ways, including, reduced trauma to the body, less anesthesia, less risk of infection, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster recovery.

CSTAR is a collaborative research program of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Lawson Health Research Institute (LHRI), and is affiliated with the University of Western Ontario. CSTAR is a world leader in medical robotics, and Canada's centre for developing and testing the next generation of minimally invasive surgeries, including robotics.

CSTAR will soon move into its new state of the art research facility, occupying two of the five floors of the Legacy Research Pavilion at LHSC's University Campus later this fall.

Date:	Friday, September 26, 2003
Time:	1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location:	London Health Sciences Centre University Campus 339 Windermere Rd. 10th Floor - Epilepsy Unit North open parking lot closest to Windermere Road, behind the new visitor parking garage. The robot will be housed in a large transport truck parked in that lot. Parking is available in the new visitor-parking garage.