Z-KAT, Inc. and Barrett Technology announce partnership to develop the next generation of medical robotic systems

Citation

(2001), "Z-KAT, Inc. and Barrett Technology announce partnership to develop the next generation of medical robotic systems", Industrial Robot, Vol. 28 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2001.04928bab.004

Z-KAT, Inc. and Barrett Technology announce partnership to develop the next generation of medical robotic systems

Z-KAT, Inc. and Barrett Technology announce partnership to develop the next generation of medical robotic systems

Keywords: Robotics, Medical

Z-KAT, Inc. (www.Z-KAT.com), a Hollywood, Florida based computer-assisted surgery technology firm, and Barrett Technology, Inc (www.barrett.com), a developer of innovative robotic arms and hands, announce their partnership to develop the next generation of medical robotic systems (see Plate 2).

Z-KAT develops image-guided software, intelligent instrumentation, and human-interactive robotic technologies to enable less-invasive orthopedic and neurological surgeries. Its acquisition of Marconi's IGS assets in September 2000 furthers Z-KAT's goal of building a "best-in-class" suite of image-guided technologies for the modern operating room. The Marconi acquisition greatly enhances and expands the partnership potential for ZKAT and Barrett in haptic robotics.

Plate 2 Barrett technology Inc. develops innovative robotic arms and hands

"We now have the capability to flow X-ray, CT, MR, PET, and even endoscopic imaging through the haptic WAM™ platform, expanding its potential utility and use in the modern operation room and radiology suite", said Z-KAT CEO Rony Abovitz. "Wide bandwidth imaging capability coupled to the most innovative and human interactive robotic platform in existence today means that Z-KAT and Barrett can provide solutions to the medical community that are driven by Moore's Law", said Barrett Technology CEO William Townsend. "The promise of robotics to deliver on versatility and usability has always been dependent on computing power – and that power that is just now becoming affordably available".

"Z-KAT and Barrett share a common philosophy: robots that work with, and do not replace, humans", said ZKAT CEO Rony Abovitz. "The concept of collaborative robotics is relatively new and is one of the most exciting areas of the Z-KAT Barrett partnership – one in which we foresee significant adoption by the medical community due to the removal of the fear of robotics". William Townsend added, "Barrett's core competency in developing the next generation of advanced robotic systems will keep both Z-KAT and Barrett on top of what is new and exciting in robotics. Robots that touch, feel, and communicate with each other across the web are all part of where we are now and where we are heading".

About Z-KAT

Founded in March 1997, Z-KAT, Inc. develops unique software, instrumentation, and human-interactive robotic technologies to enable less-invasive orthopedic and neurological surgeries. Z-KAT's computer-assisted surgery systems are currently being used in thousands of surgical cases every year.

About Barrett

Since 1988, Barrett Technology has pioneered the core technology underlying new levels of flexibility and machine intelligence in articulated arms and hands. Today, Barrett is the leader in advanced robotic manipulators (Guinness Book, Millennium Edition) with the unmatched degree of versatility and usability required to support an ever-broadening application capability.