Surgical MRI-Compatible Robot

The MR environment is problematic in terms of existing iron-bearing instruments because of the strong magnetic fields that can hamper their use.

A MRI-compatible surgical robot can operate in the brain, where locating the precise area to be operated on can be difficult. The robot can also be modified for use in other areas of the body. The longer-term objective of the researchers is to create an interactive and easy-to-use device, a robotic arm that the surgeon can use just like any other surgical instrument.

The robot is intended to reduce patient movement during a surgical procedure inside the MRI unit. Operating inside the MRI unit is hardly ever done because finding a working position is almost impossible and many tools are not adequately nonmagnetic. To date, only updated images of the patient are captured in an MRI unit, and the actual procedure is performed outside the unit, which can result in unnecessary movement of the patient and patient monitors. Surgical times would be considerably lessened if the patient did not have to be moved, while image updating would become easier and closer to real time.

The study goals encompassed four areas, which included: The (1) image processing for an MRI-compatible robot; (2) sensor and communications solutions; (3) estimation of geometric relationships for a flexible structure; and (4) robot structure and improving the MRI compatibility of mechanics and tools.

The study's ultimate goal was to improve the MRI compatibility of the robot's mechanics and devise new clinical tools. Prof. Janne Heikkilä, from the University of Oulo, Finland, headed the research team to develop image processing and analysis techniques that could be used with the robot. The researchers are developing a small, three-dimensional MRI-compatible power sensor, optical transmission of control and sensor data, and are also assessing wireless data communications systems and minimization of electro-magnetic disturbances. They are currently developing methods to help keep the robot's degree of freedom during very complicated movements.




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University of Oulo