Microcamera attached to frontal surgical illuminator

• Grant number: 04/02610-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: May 01, 2005
• End date: July 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering - Product Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Edson Minoru Kubo
• Grantee: Edson Minoru Kubo
• Company: Foco do Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda. - ME
• City: São Paulo

Abstract

The objective of the project is to develop a microcamera attached to a frontal surgical illuminator, the principal applications for which are aimed at technical-surgical specialties and skills: heart surgery, neuro- and plastic surgery, among others. The visual capture could even be used for the demonstration of new techniques in scientific meetings; as a teaching tool in medicine and biology; for the live demonstration of procedures and anatomy classes. The illuminator proposed here is without equal, offering superior technological innovations such as the complete elimination of parallax errors between the optical illumination system and the microcamera. In the first phase of the project, two prototypes were manufactured. Phase 2 aims to make the technique developed even more sophisticated, to define the production process in accordance with regulatory norms and to significantly reduce production costs. As far as commercialization is concerned, the dimensions of the Brazilian market are quite respectable. There are 45,500 surgeons with technical skills and specialties, and other potential dimensions. The exploitation of specific niches and the launching of models with better technical resources and incorporating new technological functions lifts the product into a context in which expectations are very promising. It is estimated that the price of the equipment will be 50 per cent lower than imported equivalents. (AU)