The Government’s Role in the Surgical Tools Industry

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4) Considering the government mechanisms introduced in Harborne, P. and Hendry, C. 2012. “Commercialising new energy technologies: failure of the Japanese machine?” Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 497–510, describe the role of government as your chosen industry has emerged.

The Life Science Surgical Tools Industry is the use of technology to help save people’s lives. For example, Robotic Surgery is a life science surgical tool designed to help surgeons make precise incisions. As humans we have limitations when it comes to invasive surgery. There have been reports where people have tools left inside their bodies after the surgery was completed. (4) The use of technology can prevent such mistakes, and perhaps even increase the likelihood of one’s survival. The machine described is controlled by the surgeon, and the robotic arms carry out the actions as instructed. This means that the machine can be controlled remotely, even if the surgeon is not present.(5) There have been cases where patients had to be moved to other cities or states to have a surgery completed. With the robot, the surgeon is able to remotely control it anywhere in the world.(5)

The role of Government in with this emerging industry in critical because “New energy technologies also need to be thoroughly proven before they are introduced, since failures cause unacceptable social and industrial problems.”(8) This is a sensitive topic as people’s lives are at risk. If someone were to die with this machine, many problems would arise. However, the application of robots for surgery has been positive for a number of surgeries. Because the robot acts according to the surgeon’s command, pain and blood loss are minimalized. Also, since the...

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...e on the doctor’s part led to a man’s death. I believe that if the Government and the Food & Drug Administration were to provide more funding for robotic surgery, mistakes can be minimalized.

Sources:

1. http://fightforvictims.com/medical-devices/da-vinci-surgical-robot-injury-lawsuit

2. http://michaelbelfiore.com/2013/08/raven-robotic-surgery-for-the-masses.html

3. http://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2000_Groups/Heart_Surgery/Robotics.html

4. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57608160/

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_surgery

6. http://citris-uc.org/research/projects/raven_surgical_robotic_system

7. http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/01/surgical-robots

8. Paul Harborne & Chris Hendry (2012): Commercialising new energy technologies: failure of the Japanese machine?, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 24:5, 497-510

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