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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

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Journal article
Davies BL, Harris SJ, Rodriguez y Baena F, Gomes MP, Jakopec Met al., 2004,
Hands-On Robotic Surgery: Is This the Future?
, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol: 3150, Pages: 27-37, ISSN: 0302-9743
- Cite
Conference paper
Cobb J, Henckel J, Richards RW, Harris S, Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena F, Davies B, Gomes Pet al., 2004,
Robot assisted minimally invasive unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: results of first clinical trials
, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 4th Annual Meeting of CAOS International, Publisher: CAOS, Pages: 4-6
- Cite
Conference paper
Borelli J, Rodriguez y Baena F, Davies B, 2004,
An active constraint environment for minimally invasive heart surgery: early experience of a cutting operation
, Medicine Meets Virtual Reality 12: Building a better you: the next tools for medical education diagnosis and care, Publisher: IOS Press, Pages: 31-33
- Cite
Journal article
Borelli J, Bello F, Bena FR, Davies Bet al., 2004,
An active constraint environment for minimally invasive heart surgery: early experience of a cutting operation
, MEDICINE MEETS VIRTUAL REALITY 12, Vol: 98, Pages: 31-33, ISSN: 0926-9630
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 1
Conference paper
Harris S, Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena F, Davies B, Barrett ARW, Gomes Pet al., 2004,
Robotic surgery: are hands-on robots the future?
, Mechatronics and Robotics, Pages: 1441-1445
- Cite
Patent
Davies BL, Harris SJ, Rodriguez y Baena F, Jakopec Met al., 2003,
Apparatus and method for registering the position of a surgical robot
, WO03043515
- Publisher Web Link
- Cite
Conference paper
Cobb J, Henckel J, Gomes P, Harris S, Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena F, Davies Bet al., 2003,
An active constraint robot improves outcomes in total knee arthroplasty
, Marbella, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 3rd International Annual Meeting of CAOS, 18 - 21 June 2003, Marbella, Spain, Publisher: Springer, Pages: 64-65
- Cite
Journal article
Jakopec M, Harris SJ, Rodriguez y Baena F, Gomes P, Davies BLet al., 2003,
The Acrobot (R) system for total knee replacement
, Ind Robot, Vol: 30, Pages: 61-66, ISSN: 0143-991X
A "hands-on" robotic system for total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is presented. Computed tomography (CT) based software is used to accurately plan the procedure pre-operatively. Intra-operatively, the surgeon guides a small, special-purpose robot, called Acrobot(R), which is mounted on a gross positioning device. The Acrobot uses active constraint control, which constrains the motion to a pre-defined region, and thus allows the surgeon to safely cut the knee bones to fit a TKR prosthesis with high precision. A non-invasive anatomical registration method is used. The system has undergone early clinical trials with very promising outcomes.
- Abstract
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Conference paper
Rodriguez y Baena F, Cobb J, Gomes P, Harris S, Jakopec M, Davies Bet al., 2003,
Fast and efficient registration for hands-on robotic assisted knee surgery
, Marbella, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 3rd International Annual Meeting of CAOS, Publisher: Springer, Pages: 74-75
- Cite
Journal article
Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena F, Harris SJ, Gomes P, Cobb J, Davies BLet al., 2003,
The hands-on orthopaedic robot "Acrobot": Early clinical trials of total knee replacement surgery
, Ieee T Robotic Autom, Vol: 19, Pages: 902-911, ISSN: 1042-296X
A "hands-on" robotic system for total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is presented. A computer tomography-based preoperative planning software is used to accurately plan the procedure. Intraoperatively, the surgeon guides a small special-purpose robot, called Acrobot, which is mounted on a gross positioning device. The Acrobot uses active constraint control, which constrains the motion to a predefined region, and thus allows the surgeon to safely cut the knee bones to fit a TKR prosthesis with high precision. A noninvasive anatomical registration method is described. The system has been successfully used in seven clinical trials with encouraging results.
- Abstract
- Cite

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