PM.20.041 – Small-scale, untethered, smart tools for minimally-invasive robotic surgery

Minimally invasive procedures and robotic tools have made significant improvements in the outcomes of surgical interventions. This project aims to develop the next generation of robotic surgical tools in the form of untethered devices that can perform surgical procedures in the most minimally invasive way. We aim to leverage our experience in magnetic actuation of robotic systems to create small-scale capsule-like robots that can navigate to remote surgical sites in the body after entering through an orifice. The devices will need to be embedded with components made from smart materials such as miniaturized sensors and actuators. By the end of the project, we aim for devices that are capable of reliable and versatile operation with human-in-the loop control in a surgical suite.

Keywords

magnetic actuation, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, smart devices

Other organisations

Saxion university of applied sciences, Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (UMCG)