Canada: l'Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal inaugure les pavillons Lassonde, les premiers "bâtiments durables"

132 ans d'essor et de rayonnement

Fondée en 1873, l'Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal est l'un des plus importants établissements d'enseignement et de recherche en génie au Canada et elle occupe le premier rang au Québec par le nombre de ses étudiants et l'ampleur de ses activités de recherche. Polytechnique donne son enseignement dans 11 spécialités de l'ingénierie et réalise près du quart de la recherche universitaire en ingénierie au Québec. L'Ecole compte 220 professeurs et près de 6 000 étudiants. A son budget annuel de fonctionnement de 85 millions de dollars s'ajoute un budget annuel de recherche et d'infrastructure de 66,7 millions de dollars. Polytechnique est affiliée à l'Université de Montréal.

"'En 132 ans, Polytechnique est devenue le troisième centre d'enseignement et de recherche en génie au Canada, le premier au Canada pour l'intensité de ses activités de recherche et le premier au Québec pour le nombre de ses étudiants et l'ampleur de ses activités de recherche. Depuis 1873, Polytechnique a formé quelque 28 000 diplômés, dont un grand nombre ont fait leur marque au niveau international, et 27 pour cent des membres de l'Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec y ont suivi leurs études. L'ajout constant d'infrastructures et de programmes d'avant-garde est indispensable pour lui permettre d'affirmer sa place parmi les écoles de génie d'envergure mondiale.
Les performances de nos chercheurs dans des domaines de pointe comme la microélectronique, avec l'implant urinaire, la chirurgie assistée par ordinateur, la chirurgie orthopédique, les nanotechnologies, ainsi que les
nouvelles sources d'énergie alternatives, par exemple la pile à combustion, ne sont que quelques exemples éloquents des recherches en cours. Tous ces éléments représentent un motif de fierté et un gage de prospérité pour l'ensemble du Québec', a souligné M. Bernard Lamarre, président du conseil d'administration de Polytechnique".

Journée portes ouvertes pour le public
Le public est invité à venir découvrir les nouvelles installations de Polytechnique lors de sa journée portes ouvertes prévue pour le dimanche 20 novembre 2005 de 10 h à 16 h
===> www.polymtl.ca/jpo

Source :
CNW Telbec

Chances of late surgery in relation to length of wait lists

This white paper (scientific press) is not specifically about minimally invasively performed Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts.

Abstract (provisional):

"Background

The proportion of patients who undergo surgery within a clinically safe time is an important performance indicator in health systems that use wait lists to manage access to care. However, little is known about chances of on-time surgery according to variations in existing demand. We sought to determine what proportion of patients have had late coronary bypass surgery after registration on wait lists of different size in a network of hospitals with uniform standards for timing of surgery.

Methods

Using records from a population-based registry, we studied wait-list times prospectively collected in a cohort of patients registered on wait lists for coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. We compared the number of weeks from registration to surgery against target access times established for three urgency groups. The chances of undergoing surgery within target time have been evaluated in relation to wait-list size at registration and the number of surgeries performed without registration on a wait list.

Results

In 1991-2001, two in three patients were at risk of late surgery when registered on wait lists for isolated coronary bypass procedures in British Columbia, Canada. Although urgent patients had never seen a wait list with clearance time exceeding one week, the odds of on-time surgery were reduced by 25%, odds ratio [OR] = 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-0.87) for every additional operation performed without registration on a list. When the wait list at registration required a clearance time of over one month, semi-urgent patients had 51% lower odds of on-time surgery as compared to lists with clearance time less than one week, OR = 0.49 (95%CI 0.41-0.60), after adjustment for age, sex, comorbidity, calendar period, hospital and week on the list. In the non-urgent group, the odds were 69% lower, OR = 0.31 (95%CI 0.20-0.47). Every time an operation in the same hospital was performed without registration on a wait list, the odds of on-time surgery for listed patients were reduced by 7%, OR = 0.93 (95%CI 0.91-0.95) in the semi-urgent group, and by 10%, OR = 0.90 (95%CI 0.87-0.94), in the non-urgent group.

Conclusions

Chances of late surgery increase with the wait-list size for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients needing coronary bypass surgery.

The weekly number of patients who move immediately from angiography to the operation without registration on a wait list reduced chances of surgery within target time in all urgency groups of listed patients. When advising patients who will be placed on the wait list about the expected time to treatment, hospital managers should take into account the current list size as well as the weekly number of patients who require CABG (1) immediately after undergoing coronary angiography."

(1) CABG = Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Sources:
BMC Health Services Research 2005. Authors: Boris G Sobolev ,
Adrian R Levy , Lisa Kuramoto and Robert Hayden.
==> BioMedCentral.com

HAUTS-DE-SEINE - RENCONTRE : aux frontières du réel

"La médiathèque de Fontenay-aux-Roses vous donne rendez-vous le
jeudi 22 septembre 2005 à 20H00,
pour une rencontre avec Rodolphe GELIN responsable du Service cognitique, robotique et interaction au CEA Fontenay-aux-Roses. Cette rencontre aura pour thème :
Aux frontières du réel.

Du bureau d’étude à la chirurgie il est possible aujourd’hui de se projeter dans un environnement complètement virtuel, de manipuler des objets et d’en ressentir la texture, le poids et même le bruit lorsqu’ils se heurtent ! Grâce au progrès des techniques de simulation numérique, des performances graphiques et de la puissance de calcul des ordinateurs, les chercheurs explorent la possibilité de créer des environnements en réalité virtuelle pour le développement, par exemple, de robots chirurgicaux, d’architectures audacieuses ou de moteurs innovants."

Lieu :
CEA/Fontenay-aux-Roses
92265 FONTENAY-AUX-ROSES
Contact :
Tél. : 01.46.54.70.80
Source :
Futura-Sciences.com

Penetration of the English language in science

Penetration of the English language in science: the case of a German national interdisciplinary critical care conference:

==> Download this scientific article (Critical Care), PDF Format: click here

Source:
Critical Care

Minimally Invasive Surgery Center at Cooper University Hospital (USA)

Cooper University Hospital is the leading provider of comprehensive health services, medical education and clinical research in southern New Jersey and the Delaware Valley. Cooper is the only hospital in South Jersey —and one of just 200 nationwide— that has the daVinci® Surgical System. This laparoscopic surgical robot combines computer technology and the surgeon’s skill.

Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIHS) is easier on patients and appears to be a promising alternative to open heart surgery. Cooper surgeons perform minimally-invasive bypass surgery with or without the heart-lung machine and robotic-assisted heart surgery using the daVinci® Surgical System.

Minimally Invasive Heart Procedures at Cooper University Hospital:
=> read more.

Find out about types of minimally invasive surgery:
=> click here.

Source:
Cooper University Hospital.

Robotic surgery: upcoming international event (August 23-26/05)

August 23-26, 2005, Amsterdam, the Netherlands:

=> 23rd World Congress on Endourology & SWL
=> 21st Basic Research Symposium


The Society of Endourology has chosen the City of Amsterdam to host the 23rd World Congress on Endourology & SWL and the 21th Basic Research Symposium.

"The organizing committee is planning a very comprehensive scientific program that will cover most aspects of Endourology, with state-of-the-art lectures, round tables, panel discussion, debates, symposia, video sessions and poster presentations. We are allocating a significant amount of time to both posters and podium presentations to warrant enough exposure to researchers. Moreover LIVE surgery is included every day to present state-of-the-art surgical management in the different fields of endourology: endo-oncology, functional urology, stone management, and laparoscopy. The program will also include hands-on training courses and post graduate courses that will let the attendees explore new aspects in their practices in the field of basic research, diagnostics and surgical management."

=> More info.

Robotic surgery: upcoming international events

Upcoming events pertaining to the robotic surgery with
the da Vinci™ surgical system (congress, workshop, meeting):
==> click here.

Upcoming Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) international events: check following sites for more info (this is a non exhaustive list):

==> The World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons (New!) (WSCTS)
==> American College of Surgeons (ACS)
==> International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS)
==> American Association for Thoracic Surgery (www.aats.org)
==> The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
==> The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS)
==> American Heart Association (AHA)
==> American Society of General Surgeons (ASGS)
==> The Endourological Society
==> Minimally Invasive Surgery Association (MIRA)
==> Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA)
==> Belgian Association for Cardio-Thoracic surgery (www.bacts.org)
==> European Association of Urology (EAU)
==> European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
==> European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery (ESCVS)
==> European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS)
==> Pertaining to thoracic surgery: visit CTSNet Thoracic Portal.
==> European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS)
==> European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES)

The CardioThoracic Surgery network (CTS) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)

==> See upcoming events!

==> Read the online scientific press publications:
National Library of Medicine (PubMed, NCBI).

==> The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS):

"The EACTS is devoted to the practice of cardio-thoracic surgery. The main objects of the Association are to advance education in the field of cardio-thoracic surgery and to promote for the public benefit research in thoracic physiology, pathology and therapy and to correlate and disseminate the useful results thereof. Within the EACTS there are several committees working on various issues in order to improve cardio-thoracic surgery. EACTS was founded as a European organisation. However, its membership is now spread all over the world in all continents representing some 70 countries. Since its foundation in 1986 about 2000 members have been admitted, and the interest in applying for membership has grown considerably during the last few years."

==> To see upcoming EACTS events, click here.

Robotic Cardiac Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, NY (USA)

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) and Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program

at Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Surgery:

"Traditionally, open heart surgeons have reached the heart through a sternotomy, a full incision of the breastbone that averages 9-10 inches in length. While this approach offers complete access to the heart, it extends the post-operative recovery period since the patient's breastbone must heal. In minimally invasive surgery, surgeons reach the heart through smaller incisions, or "windows," that provide access to only the section of the heart being operated upon. The goal of all minimally invasive procedures is to lessen postoperative pain, minimize scarring, and reduce recovery times versus traditional open procedures.



A variety of surgical approaches are available within minimally invasive surgery. A minithoracotomy is an approximately 2-inch incision made between the ribs, eliminating the need for bones to heal postoperatively. A hemisternotomy is a modification of a sternotomy, employing a smaller, 4-5 inch incision of the breastbone. Robotic cardiac surgery is another specific type of minimal access surgery. Surgeons make three very small (1/2 inch) incisions, placing flexible surgical instruments through two incisions, and a camera through the third. The surgeon then controls the instruments at a separate console."

=> read more and see MIS post-op photos.

Source:
Columbia University Medical Center, NY, USA.

The da Vinci™ surgical system at Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle, WA, USA)

Background Information:

"What is da Vinci™?
Da Vinci™ is a computer-assisted robotic system that expands a surgeon's capability to operate within the human body in a less invasive way. The da Vinci™ Surgical System is the only technology of its kind with FDA approval in the United States. Virginia Mason Medical Center is the first and only hospital in Washington state to perform robotically-assisted surgery using the da Vinci™ Surgical System.

Why is da Vinci™ an important landmark in surgical history?



The da Vinci™ system is at the leading edge of a new frontier in surgery. These operations are performed with no direct mechanical connection between the surgeon and the patient. Da Vinci™ allows greater precision and better visualization, while using smaller incisions and producing less surgical trauma.

How is da Vinci™ used by surgeons?
Small incisions (approximately one inch) are made, through which an optical system and robotic arms with highly-specialized instruments are introduced. These are connected to a computer- driven mechanism that is controlled by a surgeon sitting at a console near the patient. The optical system provides high resolution, high magnification and depth perception.

How does the surgeon actually perform the operation?
While viewing the surgical field through the da Vinci™ System's high-resolution, three-dimensional image display, the surgeon manipulates and guides da Vinci's™ computer- assisted robotic arms and instruments. While the surgeon's hands and fingers direct the surgery, the movements are translated by the computer to precise movement of the microsurgical instruments inside the patient's body.

What procedures will be performed with the da Vinci™ System?
Now, more than 60 different types of operations have been performed with the da Vinci™ system. At Virginia Mason, the da Vinci™ system is now in use for urological, abdominal, general thoracic and cardiac surgery. These include preparation of internal mammary arteries for coronary bypass surgery, operations on the stomach to stop severe heartburn, and removal of the prostate gland because of cancer.

What are the benefits to Virginia Mason patients?
The da Vinci™ System allows minimally-invasive surgery to be performed with greater precision and improved functional and cosmetic results. It is expected to reduce length of stay in the hospital, complications and postoperative pain.

What are the benefits to Virginia Mason?
Da Vinci™ is another important step forward in Virginia Mason's continuing commitment to provide the highest quality medical care and the best patient outcomes with its 'Team Medicine' approach. Such cutting-edge technology expands the knowledge and experience base of our entire medical team. Because we have so many medical specialties involved at Virginia Mason, we are able to apply the system in a multitude of ways, enabling us to offer the best care possible to our patients. Da Vinci™ opens the door to new treatments and procedures. We hope it will reduce cost by reducing hospital length of stay and postoperative complications."

Source:
Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.