Surgery robotic study involves the exploration, development, and application of robotic systems in the field of surgery. This cutting-edge discipline integrates robotics, computer science, and medical expertise to create advanced surgical platforms that enhance precision, dexterity, and control during procedures. Surgeons utilize robotic-assisted systems to perform minimally invasive surgeries, allowing for smaller incisions, faster recovery times, and reduced trauma to patients. These robotic systems often incorporate features such as high-resolution imaging, haptic feedback, and artificial intelligence to augment the surgeon’s capabilities. The aim of surgery robotics is to improve surgical outcomes, increase the efficiency of procedures, and potentially enable remote surgery. This field represents a transformative intersection of technology and medicine, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the realm of surgical interventions.

MITI is an interdisciplinary research group at the Rechts der Isar Hospital of the Technical University of Munich that develops innovative diagnostic procedures and therapeutic solutions for minimally invasive surgery.

Since it was founded by Prof. Dr. med. Hubertus Feussner in 1999, MITI attaches great importance to interdisciplinarity. Competencies from engineering, industry and clinical practice come together at MITI, creating a know-how center for medical technology. MITI is therefore a reliable contact point for anyone looking for solutions to problems in the medical technology sector.

In its research work, MITI places particular emphasis on the suitability and applicability of the developments in everyday clinical practice. This is achieved in every project through close collaboration between engineers and clinical doctors.

Projects

Model-based surgery, telematics and communication

6G life

As part of the BMBF-funded joint project 6G-life between TUM and TUD, cutting-edge research for 6G communication networks is being advanced. As a consistent further development of today’s 5G and 4G standards, 6G offers new approaches to sustainability, security, resilience and latency. At the Rechts der Isar Clinic, two medical use cases are being researched in which innovative 6G network concepts are integrated into a clinical test bed: context-based patient monitoring and a semi-autonomous robotic telediagnostic system.

Clinical robotics

AURORA

During surgical procedures, the so-called “surgical jumper” carries out various tasks in the non-sterile area of ​​the operating room. In clinical practice, however, drastic delays in the process often occur due to staff overload. The aim of the project is therefore to develop a context-sensitive mechatronic assistance system that can move in an auto-navigating manner in the non-sterile area of ​​the operating room and thereby relieve the operating room jumper and the rest of the operating team and support them in their tasks. 

ForNeRo

The introduction of robotic assistance systems (RAS) into the clinical workflow leads to a significant increase in technical, social and organizational complexity in the operating room and adjacent areas. Despite the numerous potential advantages, the use of RAS is currently limited to only a few and, above all, complex cases or is not used at all in some areas. In the research network funded by the BFS, the seamless integration of RAS into the clinical workflow is being promoted.

SASHA-OR

SASHA-OR is developing an intelligent assistant robot for the surgical operating room. The specific goal is to realize an autonomous, collaborative surgical assistance system that is used sterile on the operating table. The system is characterized by a previously unattainable ability for flexible instrument and object management and cognitive robot-robot or robot-human interaction…

Imaging and Navigation

ManoVis

Patients with benign esophageal disease often have a long medical history before the final diagnosis of their disease. Depending on the severity and symptoms of the disease, patients are subjected to a variety of examinations such as EGD, manometry, pH-metry, CT/MRI, videofluoroscopy, FEES, etc. While all test results are compiled piece by piece and gradually reflect all aspects of the disease, it remains extremely difficult to connect the individual test modalities with each other.

Innovative clinical processes

TUM4HealthTech

Due to demographic change and the increasing multimorbidity of the population, the healthcare system is being confronted with more and more patients. At the same time, the number of medical professionals is falling, which further increases the overload of the healthcare system. The aim of the TUM4HealthTech research project is to optimize existing processes in the inpatient clinical area through a comprehensive integration of innovative technologies and thereby reduce the burden on staff.