The Zeus Years

My early work with Computer Motion (CM) coincided with a rapid global acceleration in robotic-assisted surgery. Zeus—the company’s dual-arm robotic system—promised a level of precision that captivated surgeons across specialties, even if coronary bypass remained outside its immediate reach.

Singapore became my staging ground again. Dr. Eugene Sim, ACTA’s new Manuscript Editor, expressed genuine interest in the technology. Dr. David Chew Khien Meow, Singapore’s 1999 “Entrepreneur of the Year,” emerged as the key local figure willing to purchase a Zeus system and propose a grand joint-venture partnership. His pitch even included sponsoring “the Asia Annuals Cardiovascular & Thoracic Journal,” a misnomer that raised my eyebrows but revealed how badly he wanted CM’s favor.

Japan proved both promising and volatile. My former laser dealers at Ktec—Mr. Inoue and Ms. Kinoshita—facilitated Zeus purchases through a creative import strategy requiring local surgeons to act as “sponsors.” I had never encountered such a process. It opened doors but also carried risks. When the Japanese Ministry of Health (MHW) cracked down on irregularities, Inoue was charged with corruption for overly close ties to robotic sponsors. The news sent shockwaves through the industry.

Yet hosting me never changed.
Inoue welcomed me to Tokyo with ritual generosity: premier steakhouses, nightclubs, late-night conversations. The price of one evening?
“Too much,” he’d say, shaking his head, and we’d both laugh.

India’s layered beliefs and practices could appear bewildering to an outsider, but the impact felt undeniable. As Sai Baba said, “You have it in your power to make your days on Earth a path of flowers instead of a path of thorns.”

For many in India, he did exactly that.