7 April, 2008
robot an AUSTRALIAN FIRST
A new high-tech hexapod robot - the first of its kind in Australia – will be built in Adelaide to support medical research at the Repatriation General Hospital.
It will be used to study complex joint motions in 3D - simulating people walking, bending, twisting and lifting - to help researchers design and manufacture improved joint replacements.
The robot is one of the latest patient-care projects to be funded by Foundation Daw Park, which chairman Peter Bridge says continues to make a big difference to the well-being and quality of life of South Australians.
“Medical research is expensive. In addition to the cost of the equipment and facilities, funds are needed to support the work of our trained professionals whose skills are vital to the administration of research programs,” Mr Bridge said.
Foundation Daw Park will contribute $30,000 towards the cost of a $100,000 robot which biomechanical engineer Dr John Costi says will be unique in the Southern Hemisphere, if not the world.
Manager of the RGH Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Dr Costi will build the robot over the next 12 months using the most advanced technology available and based on the design of a similar unit developed by the University of Vermont in the US. Dr Costi has established collaborations with experts in robotics (Dr Tien-Fu Lu) and control and automation systems (Assoc. Prof. Ben Cazzolato) from the School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide where the robot will be used as a teaching tool for engineering students as well as for collaborative research.
The hexapod, or stewart platform technology, is the same technology providing three-dimensional “virtual” rides at theme parks and in flight simulators.
It will measure the complex biomechanical properties of biological tissues, bones, artificial joints and other medical/surgical devices.
Initially, the robot will test the impact of repetitive motion, or manual handling, on spine and disc properties, followed by research on hips, knees, shoulders and wrists.
Dr Costi plans to subject human discs to thousands of stress cycles in different movement combinations and analyse the way in which they fail – research he hopes will lead to recommendations for better manual handling guidelines in the workplace.
“We will be able to test materials in a very advanced way, twisting, pulling and pushing with up to two tonnes of force,” he said.
“By better simulating the motion of a joint, we are better able to understand how that joint might fail, and therefore we can provide information to the world that will allow the design and manufacture of better joint replacements.”
“I see it being extremely versatile and bringing lots of significant benefits to South Australia and Australia. Its application is limited only by our imagination.”
Mr Bridge said Foundation Daw Park’s grants program in 2008 reflected the great support from its members and generous donors. “Without them, we would not be able to fund this level of specialist medical research and patient care projects,” he said.
The RGH was at the forefront of acute care for not only veterans and the ageing, with application and benefit to all South Australians.
“In addition to the world-class care it provides patients, its researchers conduct research into health conditions common to the older members of our community including diabetes, heart disease, urological conditions, colon cancer, arthritis and sleep disorders,” Mr Bridge said.
Media Contacts
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Chris Jenner
Executive Director
Foundation Daw Park
Phone: 8275 1310
Peter Bridge
Chairman
Board of Foundation Daw Park
Phone: 0407 339 485
Dr John Costi
Manager
RGH Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory
Phone: 8275 1751
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