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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

@inproceedings{Blyth:2014,
author = {Blyth, WA and Barr, DRW and Hankinson, N and Baena, FRY},
title = {An assessment of mecanum wheels for non-destructive testing (NDT) applications},
year = {2014}
}

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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - We present a study into the suitability of mecanum wheels for obtaining holonomic motion on complex geometries, such as those encountered within NDT. There are a number of industrial inspections with challenging requirements for sensors positioning, such as ultrasonic inspection of nozzle welds in pressure vessels. These challenging trajectories necessitate additional degrees of control over conventional two-axis approaches, for example crawlers or X-Y frame systems, which are restrictive. Mecanum wheels in principle offer an excellent advantage for NDT crawlers, enabling unlimited motion within the plane, however the accurate and controllable behaviour of these wheels on non-planar and non-horizontal surfaces is not well understood. In this paper we illustrate the interactions between a mecanum wheel based crawler and complex geometries and construct a model to assess the performance of the mecanum wheels with respect to the requirements of NDT, to smoothly and precisely follow complex trajectories. The potential of mecanum wheel systems is then contrasted against other wheeled systems in terms of NDT demands, and we conclude that the applicability of mecanum wheels to some tasks offers potential gains yet presents additional challenges in others.
AU  - Blyth,WA
AU  - Barr,DRW
AU  - Hankinson,N
AU  - Baena,FRY
PY  - 2014///
TI  - An assessment of mecanum wheels for non-destructive testing (NDT) applications
ER  -

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