NeuroArm, one of the most advanced robotic systems ever developed, was designed and built in collaboration with MDA, known for creating Canadarm and Canadarm2. Bringing neuroArm to life required a unique partnership between medicine, engineering, physics, and education; some of Calgary's most visionary philanthropists; the high-tech sector, and numerous government agencies and research funding organizations. "This unprecedented collaboration is a direct result of Calgary's optimistic and entrepreneurial community spirit," says Dr. Sutherland. "It's no accident a project like this is coming out of Calgary. Our community believes in innovation and supporting challenging projects."
"This is truly a flagship program for the University of Calgary and all the partner agencies involved," says Weingarten. "Visioning and building neuroArm required unprecedented collaboration between numerous government departments, funding agencies and the private sector. Making this a reality will have impacts and benefits we can't even anticipate as Calgary and Canada become known as world leaders in the field of robotic surgery."
The project began in 2001 when the namesakes of the Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Calgary philanthropists, oilpatch pioneers and brothers Doc, B.J. and Don Seaman provided $2 million to begin planning neuroArm. Their contribution was a natural extension of their support for the research centre that began with the development of the world's first intraoperative MRI scanner based on a movable high-field magnet.
"As engineers, the technology involved in neuroArm intrigued us from the start. We really understood the challenges and appreciated the brilliance that had to go into it," Doc Seaman says. The family realized that a project like neuroArm would place Calgary on the leading-edge of surgery worldwide.