RI | Centers | MERIT

Medical Robotics and Information Technology for Medicine and Surgery (MERIT) The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University Jim Osborn, Executive Director For more information, see MERIT's own page.

About MERIT Over the past ten years the Pittsburgh region has established a world-leading position in research and education for medical robotics and computer-assisted surgery, with a focus on more accurate and less invasive orthopaedic procedures. Simultaneously, we have opened new lines of research and development in computer-aided image analysis and visualization, medical devices, assisted living, rehabilitation, and bio-MEMS. The unique strength of these efforts is the successful collaboration between clinicians and researchers through every step of the technology development process. The Medical Robotics and Information Technology (MERIT) Center is building on this partnership between technology and medicine and strengthening it by collocating efforts in research, clinical validation and integration, education, technology transfer, and clinical practice.   Mission Statement Our mission is to establish Western Pennsylvania as the world's foremost center of excellence in research, clinical expertise, education, and commercialization of medical robotics and interventional information technologies for medicine and surgery.   Our approach: Perform innovative scientific and clinical research in advanced robotic and computer assisted technologies used for planning and performance of surgery, and assessment of patient outcomes. Foster economic development for the Pittsburgh region through the commercialization of these new technologies. Educate surgeons, technologists, business leaders and patients about the benefits and uses of these technologies. Simultaneously increase funding for basic science, engineering, clinical testing, business innovation and MERITs education. Assemble interdisciplinary collaborations of physicians, researchers and product developers. Rally community, academic, business and government leaders to assemble and focus the region's assets on these efforts. We are harnessing and extending robotics and information technologies to deliver superior healthcare, and tying them to other strong regional efforts in bioengineering, tissue engineering, imaging and visualization, assisted living and preventive medicine, and clinical outcomes measurement. Together with partners in clinical practice and industry, MERIT covers the spectrum from research through development to clinical practice, designed around advances that will lead to superior prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.   Our motto: "Pursuing perfection in healthcare through innovations in robotics and information technologies for medicine and surgery."   Impact Statement The impact of MERIT on medical practice and healthcare will be profound, offering: The Surgical Toolbox of the Future: surgical robots and robotic-assisted tooling, navigational aids, tool position tracking, surgical planners and simulators, and virtual reality displays; Smart medical and diagnostic tools, such as functional microsurgical instruments, handheld diagnostic equipment, and wearable health status monitors with embedded intelligence; 2D and 3D medical image analysis and informatics, including techniques to combine imaging modalities, automatically identify anatomical features and organize medical image databases; Rehabilitative and prosthetic devices, including electronic neuromuscular interfaces, implants with embedded intelligence, and robotic mechanisms to measure and improve human motor function; Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) for medicine and surgery, such as implantable sensors, micro-machined surgical tools and MEMS for tissue engineering; Assisted living and preventive healthcare equipment, such as devices for outpatient monitoring and robots to assist the infirmed and disabled; Continuous improvement of patients' clinical outcomes through routine measurement of surgical technique and other therapies. Training of the next generation of physicians and technologists well-versed in robotics and information technologies; and New cross-disciplinary education of today's doctors and engineers.
Research Projects Labs Publications	People Faculty Staff Students
Contact Infomation MERIT Center The Robotics Institute Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15213-3890 (412) 268 6553 (Jim Osborn, Executive Director) (412) 268 6436 (FAX)	Other MERIT Information Institute for Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery (our sister center at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital) MERITs of Pittsburgh (regional website)