ADVISORY/UCLA, Computer Motion Win $2 Million Federal Award to Advance Surgical Robots in Telemedicine.

Assignment/News Editors & Health/Medical/Education Writers

ADVISORY...for Thursday (Nov. 1)

--(BW HealthWire)

Members of Press Invited to Hands-On Demonstration of

Surgical Robot and Tele-Collaboration System

    What: With this new $2 million federal grant, the ZEUS robot -- a
          robotic system for minimally invasive microsurgical
          procedures -- will be modified to create a surgical training
          system similar to a flight simulator which will redefine the
          way seasoned, highly skilled surgeons train new surgeons.

        -- Photo, video, and interview opportunity with UCLA surgeons.
        -- Hands-on demonstration of ZEUS robot. Members of the press
           can operate the same robot system recently used in the
           world's first intercontinental (New York-to-France)
           telesurgery.
        -- Hands-on demonstration of SOCRATES Telecollaboration
           system, which allows mentoring surgeons to guide in-
           training surgeons using video conferencing.
        -- B-roll available of UCLA surgeons, including interviews,
           demonstrations with ZEUS and actual surgical footage of
           robotic technology helping perform minimally invasive
           surgery. Plus, interviews with patients.

    Who:   Dr. E. Carmack Holmes, professor and chairman, UCLA
            Department of Surgery
           Dr. Peter Schulam, associate professor, chief of UCLA
            Division of Endourology and Laparoscopic Surgery
           Yulan Wang, founder and chief technology officer, Computer
            Motion Inc.

    When:  Thursday, Nov.1, 9:30 a.m.

    Where: L.J. West Auditorium, Neuropsychiatric Institute,
           760 Westwood Plaza, UCLA

    Why:   Under the National Institute of Standards and Technology
           (NIST) Advanced Technology Program (ATP) Award, Computer
           Motion, UCLA, Michigan State University, and UCSB plan to
           develop the world's first `surgical simulator system' that
           will redefine surgical education. The grant will offer
           significant applications in surgeon training and
           telemedicine.

R.S.V.P.  Contact Juliana Minsky, SurfMedia, 805/962-5792,
805/689-6618 cell.