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

Head of Group

Prof Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena

B415C Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus

+44 (0)20 7594 7046

⇒ X: @fmryb

 

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

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Donder:2023:10.1109/TBME.2022.3209149,
author = {Donder, A and Rodriguez, y Baena F},
doi = {10.1109/TBME.2022.3209149},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering},
pages = {1072--1085},
title = {3-D path-following control for steerable needles with fiber Bragg gratings in multi-core fibers},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2022.3209149},
volume = {70},
year = {2023}
}

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB - Steerable needles have the potential for accurateneedle tip placement even when the optimal path to a target tissueis curvilinear, thanks to their ability to steer, which is an essen-tial function to avoid piercing through vital anatomical features.Autonomous path-following controllers for steerable needles havealready been studied, however they remain challenging, especiallybecause of the complexities associated to needle localization. Inthis context, the advent of fiber Bragg Grating (FBG)-inscribedmulti-core fibers (MCFs) holds promise to overcome these diffi-culties. Objective: In this study, a closed-loop, 3-D path-followingcontroller for steerable needles is presented. Methods: The controlloop is closed via the feedback from FBG-inscribed MCFs embed-ded within the needle. The nonlinear guidance law, which is a well-known approach for path-following control of aerial vehicles, isused as the basis for the guidance method. To handle needle-tissueinteractions, we propose using Active Disturbance Rejection Con-trol (ADRC) because of its robustness within hard-to-model en-vironments. We investigate both linear and nonlinear ADRC, andvalidate the approach with a Programmable Bevel-tip SteerableNeedle (PBN) in both phantom tissue and ex vivo brain, with someof the experiments involving moving targets. Results: The mean,standard deviation, and maximum absolute position errors areobserved to be 1.79 mm, 1.04 mm, and 5.84 mm, respectively, for3-D, 120 mm deep, path-following experiments. Conclusion: MCFswith FBGs are a promising technology for autonomous steerableneedle navigation, as demonstrated here on PBNs. Significance:FBGs in MCFs can be used to provide effective feedback in path-following controllers for steerable needles
AU - Donder,A
AU - Rodriguez,y Baena F
DO - 10.1109/TBME.2022.3209149
EP - 1085
PY - 2023///
SN - 0018-9294
SP - 1072
TI - 3-D path-following control for steerable needles with fiber Bragg gratings in multi-core fibers
T2 - IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2022.3209149
UR - https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9900442
VL - 70
ER -

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Bessemer Building
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Imperial College
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