Chicago (IL) - The principles of global positioning technology via orbiting satellites are now being used in hospital operating rooms. GPS triangulation technique guides planes in the air, ships at sea and vehicles on the ground, and now it precisely guides the instruments of orthopedic surgeons as they perform their delicate procedures on human beings.

Scott Kurtovich is one of many patients who have benefited recently from the surgical application of GPS space technology.

"I had my right knee replaced that way," said Kurtovich, 47, of Orland Park, an assistant executive director with the Cook County Department of Corrections. "I first hurt my knee in high school, and ... it got worse over the years. Now my knee is solid as can be."

More here at Chicago Tribune...

They could simplify it all...

Aug 07, 2007 13:54     

They really could simplify this system. All they would need to do is put 3 or more devices in the surgery or hospital room to help calculate precise positions. They really shouldn't have to use satellites. Hell, they could use modified wireless routers or something.
wingless report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Duh!

Aug 07, 2007 14:08     

Of coarse they use local signal generation. The article states, "global positioning technology", a al signal triangulation, not actual GPS itself. GPS is nowhere near accurate enough, besides the fact that the signal does not penetrate structures. What do you think? They were operating on the front lawn of the hospital?
readIt report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

re

Aug 07, 2007 14:40     

yes they would have to use local signal generation since GPS gives a location to within 6 feet accuracy. evidently this is not particularly useful when operating on a hip.
fred report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Local or satelite

Aug 08, 2007 04:48     

The article could have been more clear about this. Now it makes it seem like they use the GPS satelites for surgery. The article should have just said they use triangulation techniques.
Lennart report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

re: Duh

Aug 08, 2007 09:08     

My GPS unit penetrates structures.
Saganhill report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Read link at Chicago Tribune

Aug 08, 2007 21:33     

It makes way more sense what this article is on about if you follow th link to the Chicago Tribune article, this article is a bit lacking on details and you tend to presume things that are not true when reading it.
jimmyoo0 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0