After coming across this,, the only thing that went through my head was,,

‘Like a surgeon, hey! ‘Thanks to Weird Al, a healthy imagination, and friends who are surgeons. I couldn’t help but think what a wonderful thing this is.

It is a mechanical hand, the smallest in the world. When the “fist” is closed (you can well imagine other titles for this post came to mind,, now get your mind out of the gutter!) As I was saying, when the fist is closed the diameter of the assembly is under 1mm.

That folks is small!

Also, the hand is operated pneumatically. You’ve likely heard that word many times before and said, “What the hell does that mean?” Simple,, pneumatics are mechanisms powered by some sort of gas. What does that mean in this application?

Good question!

Well, gas operation means a few things. One, it doesn’t require some huge straight steel rod to position it (if it’s inside a biological organism). A flexible catheter (that’s what they call a tube with a hole in the middle of it if you’re a doctor) can be shoved up darn near any artery, vein, or general inner-body tube! (for instance, any of your head holes will do (well maybe not your ears, but the rest of them)).

I think I am nearing my parenthesis quota for this blog.

Do go over to medgadget and check the whole post. It’s really something. Just think someday soon a surgeon with steady hands will be shoving this small hand up inside your body to do amazing things. It’s technology helping medicine in a VERY useful way.