The research team of Professor Cheng Shing-Shin has developed curve robotics: flexible robotic solutions for minimally invasive neurosurgery. The invention has recently received international recognition at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, winning a Gold Medal.
Principal Investigator and Team Members:
Professor Cheng Shing-Shin, Dr. Yan Junyan, Dr. Chen Jibiao, Mr. Qiu Yufu (Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering)
Project Title:
Curve Robotics: Flexible Robotic Solutions for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery
Project Description:
This invention introduces flexible robotic systems for minimally invasive neurosurgery, with a patented flexible manipulator and intelligent navigation system. The flexible manipulator, under 2 mm in diameter, offers enhanced stiffness and patient-specific workspace. The navigation system integrates preoperative images and realistic tissue behavior to create delicate surgical plans with minimal tissue disruption. Neurosurgeons can steer the robot along curved paths to avoid vital brain structures and precisely manipulate lesions in confined sites, aided by AI and multimodal robot sensing.
System overview: Showcasing the core technologies, design motivations, and demonstrations of the flexible robotic system developed by the team. This system enables curvilinear trajectories for accessing lesions and extremely enhances lesion coverage in minimally invasive neurosurgery.
Dr. Yan Junyan demonstrated the hand-held steerable flexible surgical robot developed by the team, a breakthrough innovation enhancing the treatment completeness and safety of neurosurgical procedures.