Surgineering Using Intelligent and Flexible Robotic Systems

ABSTRACT: Recent advances in surgical robotics have enabled innovative techniques that reduce patient trauma, shorten hospital stays, and improve both diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes. However, despite the many benefits of robot-assisted minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures, significant limitations remain, particularly in the dexterity, intelligence, and autonomy of current robotic systems, as well as in the biomechanical design of medical devices and implants.
One of the most pressing challenges is inadequate dexterity, driven by limited access to target anatomy and insufficient control over rigid instruments and implants. These constraints highlight the need for specialized instrumentation, intelligent sensing, and adaptive control paradigms capable of navigating complex anatomical environments. Advancing autonomy in surgical systems also requires more than robotic intelligence alone, it demands synergistic human-robot interaction, where the system can both assist and adapt to the surgeon's decision-making process in real time.
This talk will introduce our lab's efforts in advancing the engineering of surgery (or surgineering) to address these challenges. I will present translational research across several clinical applications, including:
• Spinal fixation using steerable drills and flexible pedicle screws
• Colorectal cancer screening with vision-based tactile sensors and complementary AI algorithms
• In vivo bioprinting for treating volumetric muscle loss via robotic delivery systems
By integrating continuum manipulators, stretchable soft sensors, intelligent implants, and semi/autonomous control strategies, our work aims to fundamentally transform the paradigm of minimally invasive and endoscopic interventions, bringing true dexterity and autonomy to surgical robotics.