There are two main approaches to repairing a hernia: an open repair that requires a large incision, or a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique, which uses a camera to guide instruments through a tiny incision.

WSJ: A Secret for Patients Undergoing Hernia Repair

Today researchers are building force feedback surgical instruments for use in simulating--and eventually performing--minimally invasive surgical procedures like angioplasty or laparoscopic gall bladder removals.

FORBES: Desktop fingerprints