G.C.- E.L.
An Andalusian team of engineers and surgeons, mostly from Córdoba, is working on the development of the first Spanish surgical robot prototype with 3D vision, which successfully passed a first demonstration. This equipment will provide significant advantages over traditional laparoscopic systems thanks to its innovative technological specifications and results from collaboration between public sector and private enterprise.
Surgeons will be able to operate sitting in front of a screen using 3D vision glasses and not within a console –only solution currently offered by the market-, so they will be able to manage the whole operating room. This 3D system will increase surgeon confidence since as the situation will resemble conventional open surgery.
Robotics has meant a revolution in the field of minimally invasive surgery and the current challenge is focused on developing more manageable, simple-to-use and cost-effective equipment for the health systems.
A simple, customizable design
Robot design is aimed at providing an adaptable tool that allows the surgeon to customize each intervention. Thus, it consists of 3 robotic arms which can work in a coordinated manner so separately. For this, they will be supported by a light, wireless and easy-to-move metal frame, an essential requisite if intervention was to become open surgery at any point.
The arms will have intuitive user interfaces, shortening learning time. In addition, no arm calibration or adjustment will be required to set the entry-point, a task which would otherwise lengthen the time that the patient is under anesthesia.
Another advantage is that control panels used by the specialist are similar to those used in laparoscopic instrumentation, which will facilitate user learning. The robot is also equipped with a system, adapted and integrated by Tecnalia, that will emulate tactile sensations, an essential feature that will give the surgeon information of interest and increased sensory perception during the operation.
BROCA proyect
BROCA project aimed at developming this prototype is led by the Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research of Cordoba . BROCA was granted by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO ) in 2012 to the University of Córdoba through a Pre-commercial Public Procurement, with a total funding of 1.8 million euros. An 80 % of these funds is provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 20 % by MINECO .
Public health from Reina Sofía University Hospital of Cordoba are participating in the development of the prototype by providing advice to the engineering team. Technical development of the robot was awarded by the University of Cordoba to Tecnalia (Health Division ), an applied research private center which, who is working together with the group of Medical Robotics at the University of Málaga and engineers at the University of Córdoba. Finally, IMIBIC health research center coordinates the project .
All institutions and companies involved have formed a multidisciplinary group of professionals that, until December 2015 , date of completion of the project, will share knowledge and take advantage of synergies to finish this prototype. BROCA is a pioneering project that has integrated medical staff from the start. Thus, surgeons at Reina Sofia University Hospital of Cordoba are advising the team of engineers on needs to be covered. More specifically, there is implication from General Surgery , Thoracic Surgery , Cardiovascular Surgery , Gynecology, Pediatrics and Urology clinical management units of this Cordoba hospital.
The Department of Computing and Numerical Analysis of University of Córdoba is involved in the coordination of the robot artificial vision. The overall architecture design , software development, security and communications systems, design and development of instruments and control of robotic arms is coordinated by Tecnalia and the University of Málaga .
BROCA fue el primer proyecto de compra pública precomercial en el campo de la biomedicina en España, una nueva modalidad contractual impulsada por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad y los FEDER para favorecer el desarrollo de nuevos productos tecnológicos de la mano de la empresa privada. El objetivo de este modelo de contratación es reforzar el papel de las administraciones públicas como impulsoras de la innovación empresarial.
BROCA has been the first pre-commercial public procurement project in the field of biomedicine in Spain, a new contractual arrangement supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and ERDF to favor development of new technological products by private enterprise. The objective of this contractual model is to strengthen the role of public bodies in driving business innovation.
In this case, the University of Cordoba was awarded funding to conduct this pioneering project with the key implication of the IMIBIC scientific board and the collaboration of Reina sofúia University Hospital. By the end of the project, the robot prototype will be delivered to the University of Córdoba that will be in charge of the future commercialization of its products
Further information:
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Surgeons will be able to operate by sitting in front of a screen, using 3D vision glasses, with no computer console –only solution currently offered by the market-, so they will be able to manage the whole operating room. This 3D system will increase surgeon confidence for its similarity to conventional open surgery. Robotics has meant a revolution in the field of minimally invasive surgery and current challenge is focused on developing more manageable, simple-to-use and cost-effective equipments in the Health systems.
A simple, customizable design
The robot design is aimed at providing an adaptable tool that allows the surgeon to customize each intervention. Thus, it consists of 3 robotic arms which can work either in a coordinated manner or separately. For this, they will be supported by a light, wireless and easy-to-move metal frame, an essential requisite for the surgeon to switch to open surgery at any point if needed.
The arms will have intuitive user interfaces, shortening learning time. In addition, no arm calibration or adjustment will be required to set entry-points, a task which would otherwise lengthen the time that a patient is under anesthesia. Another advantage is that control panels used by specialists are similar to those used in laparoscopic instrumentation, which will facilitate user learning. The robot is also equipped with a system, adapted and integrated by Tecnalia, that will emulate tactile sensations, an essential feature that will give the surgeon information of interest and increased sensory perception during the operation.
BROCA proyect
BROCA project for development of this prototype is led by Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC) in Cordoba. BROCA was granted to the University of Córdobaby the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) in 2012 through a Pre-commercial Public Procurement, with a total funding of 1.8 million euros. 80% of these funds is provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 20% by MINECO. Public health surgeons from Reina Sofía University Hospital of Cordoba are participating in this prototype development by providing advice to the engineering team. Technical development of the robot was awarded by the University of Cordoba to Tecnalia (Health Division), an applied research private center which is working together with the group of Medical Robotics at the University of Málaga and engineers at the University of Córdoba. Finally, IMIBIC coordinates the project .
All institutions and companies involved hare part of a multidisciplinary group of professionals that, until December 2015, date of completion of the project, will share knowledge and take advantage of synergies to finish this prototype. BROCA is a pioneering project that has integrated medical staff from the start. Thus, surgeons at Reina Sofia University Hospital of Cordoba are advising the team of engineers on needs to be covered. More specifically, there is implication from General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Gynecology, Pediatrics and Urology clinical management units of this Cordoba hospital. The Department of Computing and Numerical Analysis of University of Córdoba is involved in the coordination of the robot artificial vision. The overall architecture design, software development, security and communications systems, design and development of instruments and control of robotic arms is coordinated by Tecnalia and the University of Málaga.
BROCA has been the first pre-commercial public procurement project in the field of biomedicine in Spain, a new contractual arrangement form supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and ERDF to favor development of new technological products by private enterprises. The objective of this contractual model is to strengthen the role of public bodies in driving business innovation.
In this case, the University of Cordoba was awarded funding to conduct this pioneering project with the key implication of the IMIBIC scientific board and the collaboration of Reina sofúia University Hospital. By the end of the project, the robot prototype will be delivered to the University of Cordoba that will be in charge of the future commercialization of its products.
