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Mechatronics in Medicine | MiM Lab

The MIM Lab develops robotic and mechatronics surgical systems for a variety of procedures.

Head of Group

B415C Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus

+44 (0)20 7594 7046

What we do

The Mechatronics in Medicine Laboratory develops robotic and mechatronics surgical systems for a variety of procedures including neuro, cardiovascular, orthopaedic surgeries, and colonoscopies. Examples include bio-inspired catheters that can navigate along complex paths within the brain (such as EDEN2020), soft robots to explore endoluminal anatomies (such as the colon), and virtual reality solutions to support surgeons during knee replacement surgeries.

Why is it important

The integration of mechatronics into medicine addresses critical challenges in modern healthcare by enhancing the precision, safety, and efficiency of surgical procedures. Traditional surgeries often involve significant risks and extended recovery times. By developing robotic systems that offer greater accuracy and control, we aim to minimise these risks and reduce invasiveness. Our research contributes to the advancement of minimally invasive techniques, which are essential for improving patient outcomes and optimising healthcare resources. Furthermore, our work supports the training of the next generation of surgeons, equipping them with cutting-edge tools and methodologies that reflect the evolving landscape of medical technology.

How can it benefit patients

Patients stand to gain significantly from the innovations developed at the Mechatronics in Medicine Laboratory. Our robotic systems are designed to perform surgeries with enhanced precision, leading to fewer complications and faster recovery times. Minimally invasive procedures facilitated by our technologies result in less postoperative pain and reduced scarring, improving the overall patient experience. Additionally, the increased accuracy of our systems can lead to better surgical outcomes, such as more complete tumour removals or more precise joint replacements, thereby improving long-term health prospects. By pushing the boundaries of medical robotics, we strive to make advanced surgical care more accessible and effective for patients worldwide.

Meet the team

Dr Daniel Bautista Salinas
Research Associate

Dr Kaiwen Chen
Research Associate

Dr Zejian Cui
Research Associate

Mr Connor Daly
Research Postgraduate

Emeritus Professor Brian L Davies FREng
Emeritus Professor

Dr Hisham M Iqbal
Honorary Research Associate

Mr Alex Tian Jie Ranne
Casual - Lib. Ass, Clerks & Gen. Admin Assistants

Professor Ferdinando M Rodriguez y Baena
Co-Director of Hamlyn Centre, Professor of Medical Robotics

Dr Jialei Shi
Research Associate

Mr Spyridon Souipas
Casual - Other work

Ms Emilia Zari
Research Postgraduate

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Lima:2022:10.1109/tcds.2021.3115228,
author = {Lima, MR and Wairagkar, M and Gupta, M and Baena, FRY and Barnaghi, P and Sharp, DJ and Vaidyanathan, R},
doi = {10.1109/tcds.2021.3115228},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems},
pages = {1378--1397},
title = {Conversational affective social robots for ageing and dementia support},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/tcds.2021.3115228},
volume = {14},
year = {2022}
}

Download

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Socially assistive robots (SAR) hold significant potential to assist older adults and people with dementia in human engagement and clinical contexts by supporting mental health and independence at home. While SAR research has recently experienced prolific growth, long-term trust, clinical translation and patient benefit remain immature. Affective human-robot interactions are unresolved and the deployment of robots with conversational abilities is fundamental for robustness and humanrobot engagement. In this paper, we review the state of the art within the past two decades, design trends, and current applications of conversational affective SAR for ageing and dementia support. A horizon scanning of AI voice technology for healthcare, including ubiquitous smart speakers, is further introduced to address current gaps inhibiting home use. We discuss the role of user-centred approaches in the design of voice systems, including the capacity to handle communication breakdowns for effective use by target populations. We summarise the state of development in interactions using speech and natural language processing, which forms a baseline for longitudinal health monitoring and cognitive assessment. Drawing from this foundation, we identify open challenges and propose future directions to advance conversational affective social robots for: 1) user engagement, 2) deployment in real-world settings, and 3) clinical translation.
AU  - Lima,MR
AU  - Wairagkar,M
AU  - Gupta,M
AU  - Baena,FRY
AU  - Barnaghi,P
AU  - Sharp,DJ
AU  - Vaidyanathan,R
DO  - 10.1109/tcds.2021.3115228
EP  - 1397
PY  - 2022///
SN  - 2379-8920
SP  - 1378
TI  - Conversational affective social robots for ageing and dementia support
T2  - IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/tcds.2021.3115228
UR  - https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9548693
VL  - 14
ER  -