STING: A BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED SOFT TISSUE INTERVENTION AND NEUROSURGICAL GUIDE
FERDINANDO RODRIGUEZ Y BAENA is a Reader in Medical Robotics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College, where he leads the Mechatronics in Medicine Laboratory. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from King's College London in 2000, then gained a PhD in Medical Robotics at Imperial College in 2004. His past research contributed to the world-first robotic assisted intervention in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, while his current research interests lie in the application of mechatronic systems to medicine, in the specific areas of clinical training, diagnostics and surgical intervention.
STING: A BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED SOFT TISSUE INTERVENTION AND NEUROSURGICAL GUIDE
The use of robots and mechatronic devices in medicine has gained traction in recent years, due to several exciting developments in both hardware and software. Still, many challenges remain which stand in the way of a widespread adoption of these technologies for medical training, diagnosis and surgical intervention, but Nature can help. The talk will centre upon the challenge of percutaneous (through the skin) needle steering, describing the evolution of a biologically inspired concept which finds its roots in the unique design of the ovipositor (or egg laying channel) of certain parasitic wasps. Details of a tortuous six-year journey, from early proof of concept to a functional prototype able to steer in three-dimensional space, will be given, followed by an overview of the latest integrated system, which includes path planning for obstacle avoidance and a refined needle design which meets real-world clinical requirements.