# 12: You Have a Jedi Sword

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2013-07-31
- Length: 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep12-mp3

## Summary

Dr. Edward White, a general surgeon, discusses the evolution of surgical technology with host Elecia White, contrasting traditional open surgery with modern minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopy and robotic assistance. They examine specific instruments such as the harmonic scalpel and staplers, highlighting the ergonomic challenges surgeons face and the critical importance of device reliability in high-stakes environments. The conversation also covers the economic realities of hospital procurement, the bias in medical outcome studies, and the potential for consumer devices like the iPhone to monitor patient health.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=0) Introduction and Surgical Background
- [2:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=142) Evolution from Open to Minimally Invasive Surgery
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=314) Robotic Surgery and Ergonomics
- [11:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=676) Cost, Reimbursement, and Study Bias
- [16:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=996) Instrument Design: Harmonic Scalpel and Staplers
- [23:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=1389) Marketing, Procurement, and Patient Outcomes
- [36:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=2165) Future Tech: iPhone EKG and Transdermal Monitoring
- [43:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword#t=2612) Debugging the Human Body and Final Advice

## Topics

- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Intuitive Surgical (company)
- Harmonic Scalpel (product)
- iPhone (product)
- AliveCor (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode One – Medical Robotics: into the operating theatre](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2020-09-25-episode-one-medical-robotics-into-the-operating-theatre) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Twenty-Five: Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-11-episode-twenty-five-ferdinando-rodriguez-y-baena) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 88: Robotic surgery - Lord Ara Darzi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-06-07-episode-88-robotic-surgery-lord-ara-darzi) (Robot Talk)
- [Amazon’s security drone, life-size Gundam & robotic-assisted surgery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-30-amazons-security-drone-life-size-gundam-robotic-assisted-surgery) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Episode 162: The robot doctor will see you now - Robot Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-26-episode-162-the-robot-doctor-will-see-you-now-robot-talk-live) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-31-12-you-have-a-jedi-sword. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.