Report on the Hamlyn Surgical Robot Challenge

Guest post by Renáta Elek and the BARK team:

"‘The Hamlyn Surgical Robot Challenge 2017 is an international competition that promises to be a compelling contest between some of the leading surgical robotics groups from around the world. The aim of this challenge is to exploit the unique expertise of the consortium in medical robotics to develop low-cost robot-assisted surgical and diagnostic devices that can benefit the NHS as well as be used as solutions for global health. Our aim is to enable the creation of new concepts for affordable systems especially with potential for applications in the developing world.

Instead of focusing on complex, high cost systems, the emphasis is on systems that rely on robotic platforms that allow macro to micro-scale intervention with shared autonomy between the surgeon and the robot, focusing specifically on novel soft robotics design and micro-actuators and delivery systems.

The research issues to be addressed include:

1. Bioinspired actuation and locomotion Integrated sensing and navigation;
2. Micro-fabrication and new materials; control and autonomy;
3. Robot kinematics and mechanisms; mapping and navigation within complex anatomy based on intra-operative imaging and cellular level tissue characterization;
4. Mobility (self contained locomotion, active magnetic control);
5. Sensing (co-registration of multiple imaging and sensing data);
6. Autonomy (balance between human/robot control).

The  research should also addresses:

1. Safe symbiotic co-working in challenging clinical scenarios: focused on ubiquitous safe operation and more effective human-robot interaction methods;
2. Manipulation and assembly of complex and non-rigid components across scales (from macro to micro): focused on localisation, grasping, and manipulation (under contact) of complex components with variable and changeable rigidity;
3. Rapidly deployable autonomous robots: focused on reducing programming and integration effort through, for example, learning from demonstration, tele-operation with shared autonomy, and collaboration/task sharing within networked robotics;
4. Virtual validation of mixed autonomous system: focused on analytical or empirical validation techniques in virtual environments before actual physical deployment.

Underpinning technologies should include:

1. Tactile/force sensing for remote palpation;
2. Micro-fabrication techniques for robot assisted endoluminal interventions and low cost platforms for digestive-tract screening in low income countries;
3. Soft robotics for minimally invasive surgery; low-cost robotic solutions for emergency treatment in difficult, possibly none-sterile environments;
4. Robotic assisted endomicroscopy for optical biopsy in global health settings;
5. Low-cost capsule robots and in vivo diagnostic systems;
6. Low-cost haptic simulators for the training of surgeons and other clinicians;
7. Development of easy-to-use interactive medical devices using human factors;
8. Socially aware robots enabling remote diagnosis and therapy in developing countries; ultra-low power platforms;
9. Machine intelligence and computational support for autonomous operation, navigation and diagnostic decision support through advanced vision.’

(source: http://www.hamlyn-robotics.org/)

After the first round the judging panel chose the 10 finalist team. The participated teams at the final round were:

• Automated Blunt Dissection, Antal Bejczy Center for Intelligent Robotics (iRob), Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary  
• Robot Assisted Ultrasound Imaging for Localisation Control During Radiotherapy, Heilbronn University, Medical Informatics, Germany
• Stormram 4: An MRI-compatible Robotic System for Breast Biopsy, Robotics and Mechatronics group, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, Department of Radiology, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente, Almelo, The Netherlands
• Smart Autonomous Unknown Deformable Object Manipulation Using the da Vinci Research Kit: From Soft Tissues to Continuum Robots Manipulation, Johns Hopkins University, USA, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
• Robotic Assistance Technology for Safe and Successful Retinal Vein Cannulation, Dep. of Mechanical Engineering University of Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium, Dep. of Ophthalmology, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
• Bipolar Robotic Neurosurgical Tool (BRNT) for the DVRK, Centre for Image-Guided Innovation and Therapeutic Intervention at The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada
• The Intuitive Imaging Sensing and Kinematically Enhanced Quadri Robotic Platform for Ear Nose Throat Surgery: The i2Snake, The Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery, Imperial College London, UK
• Collaborative Robotic Platform for Laparoscopic Surgery, ISIR - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France
• Three-Dimensional Robotic-Assisted Endomicroscopy with a Force Adaptive Robotic Arm, The Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery, Imperial College London, UK
• Constrained Semi-Autonomous Telemanipulated Palpation with Assistive Virtual Fixtures, Vanderbilt University, USA, The Johns Hopkins University, USA

The finalists had to demonstrate their work on the local robotic platforms. After the live demos the teams took a formal presentation in front of the judging panel. Based on the panel’s decision the final winners were:

• Best Innovation Prize: Smart Autonomous Unknown Deformable Object Manipulation Using the da Vinci Research Kit: From Soft Tissues to Continuum Robots Manipulation
• Best Application Prize: Robotic Assistance Technology for Safe and Successful Retinal Vein Cannulation
• Best Design Prize: The Intuitive Imaging Sensing and Kinematically Enhanced Quadri Robotic Platform for Ear Nose Throat Surgery: The i2Snake
• Best Video Prize: Stormram 4: An MRI-compatible Robotic System for Breast Biopsy

Congratulations to all winners and participants!"

Source: Hamlyn center