| abstract |
A system and method are disclosed for internally delivering cellular transplants to a patient under the automatic control of a computer. A diagnostic imaging modality, such as a CAT or MRI scanning system, generates one or more images of the patient's anatomy showing an anatomical region into which it is desired to deliver the cellular transplants. For each such image, location coordinates with respect to a patient support means are calculated by the computer for each individual pixel making up the image. Location coordinates arc then defined for a select body region corresponding to pixels of the anatomical image(s) designated by a user of the system to receive the cellular transplants. The computer then operates a manipulator arm in order to position a tranplantation tool such as an injection needle or catheter mounted on the arm adjacent to the select body region. In the case of an injection needle, the needle is inserted into the region at the appropriate depth, and an injector is operated under computer control to force a predetermined amount of a transplant medium containing the cellular transplants out of a lumen within the injection needle and into the select body region. |