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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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Conference paper
Cobb J, Henckel J, Gomes P, Harris S, Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena F, Davies Bet al., 2003,
Evolution of the next generation acrobot orthopaedic surgery robot, computer assisted orthopaedic surgery
, Marbella, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 3rd International Annual Meeting of CAOS, 18 - 21 June 2003, Marbella, Spain, Publisher: Springer, Pages: 152-153
- Cite
Conference paper
Harris S, Henckel J, Gomes P, Rodriguez y Baena F, Cobb J, Davies Bet al., 2003,
The use of X-ray computerized tomography to measure the accuracy of total knee arthroplasty
, Marbella, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 3rd International Annual Meeting of CAOS, Publisher: Springer, Pages: 142-143
- Cite
Conference paper
Rodriguez y Baena F, Jakopec M, Harris SJ, Gomes, MPSF, Dobb J, Davies BLet al., 2002,
Anatomical registration implementation and results for a "hands-on" robotic knee surgery system
, Santa Fe, 2nd Annual conference CAOS, Santa Fe, 19 - 22 June 2002, Publisher: Sweeney Convention Center, Pages: 101-102
- Cite
Conference paper
Jakopec M, Harris SJ, Rodriguez y Baena F, Gomes P, Davies BLet al., 2002,
Acrobot: a "hands-on" robot for total knee replacement surgery
, 7th International Workshop on Advanced Motion Control, 3 5 July 2002, MARIBOR, SLOVENIA, Publisher: IEEE Service Center, Pages: 116-120
- Cite
Conference paper
Cobb J, Gomes P, Harris S, Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena Fet al., 2002,
A planning system for active constraint robot knee surgery
, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd International Annual Meeting of CAOS, Publisher: Sweeney Convention Center, Pages: 252-253
- Cite
Conference paper
Jakopec M, Harris SJ, Baena RY, Gomes PG, Cobb J, Davies BLet al., 2002,
Preliminary results of an early clinical experience with the Acrobot (TM) system for total knee replacement surgery
, 5th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, Publisher: SPRINGER-VERLAG NEW YORK, MS INGRID CUNNINGHAM, 175 FIFTH AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10010 USA, Pages: 256-263, ISSN: 0302-9743
Early clinical experience with a "hands-on" robotic system for total knee replacement surgery is presented. The system consists of a pre-operative CT based planning software, a small special purpose robot called Acrobot (active constraint robot) mounted on a gross positioning device and special leg fixtures. The surgeon guides the Acrobot under active constraint control, which constrains the motion into a predefined region, and thus allows surfaces of the bones to be machined safely and with high accuracy. A non-invasive anatomical registration method is used. The system was clinically tested on 7 patients with encouraging results.
- Abstract
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Conference paper
Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena F, Jakopec H, Harris SJ, Gomes, MPSF, Cobb J, Davies BLet al., 2002,
Intraoperative user interface of a "hands-on" surgical robot
, Santa Fe, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd International Annual Meeting of CAOS, Publisher: Sweeney Convention Center, Pages: 115-116
- Cite
Conference paper
Cobb J, Henckel J, Harris SJ, Jakopec M, Rodriguez y Baena F, Gomes, MPSF, Davies BLet al., 2002,
First clinical trials of a "hands-on" Active Constraint robot
, Santa Fe, Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd International Annual Meeting of CAOS, Publisher: Sweeney Convention Center, Pages: 46-47
- Cite
Journal article
Jakopec M, Harris SJ, Rodriguez y Baena F, Gomes P, Cobb J, Davies BLet al., 2001,
The first clinical application of a "Hands-On" robotic knee surgery system
, Computer Aided Surgery, Vol: 6, Pages: 329-339, ISSN: 1092-9088
The performance of a novel "hands-on" robotic system for total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is evaluated. An integrated robotic system for accurately machining the bone surfaces in TKR surgery is described. Details of the system, comprising an "active constraint" robot, called Acrobot, a "gross positioning" robot, and patient clamps, are provided. The intraoperative protocol and the preoperative, CT-based, planning system are also described. A number of anatomical registration and cutting trials, using plastic bones, are described, followed by results from two preliminary clinical trials, which demonstrate the accuracy achieved in the anatomical registration. Finally, the first clinical trial is described, in which the results of the anatomical registration and bone cutting are seen to be of high quality. The Acrobot system has been successfully used to accurately register and cut the knee bones in TKR surgery. This demonstrates the great potential of a "hands-on" robot for improving accuracy and increasing safety in surgery.

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