NYU Abu Dhabi Leads Breakthrough in Surgical Haptics for Keyhole Procedures

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) researchers have unveiled a game-changing technology that brings back the vital sense of touch to surgeons performing keyhole surgery. Known formally as minimally invasive surgery (MIS), this approach uses tiny incisions and long, slender tools to access hard-to-reach areas inside the body. While it offers faster recovery times, smaller scars, and lower infection risks compared to open surgery, one major drawback has always been the loss of tactile feedback. Surgeons can't feel the texture or firmness of tissues through rigid instruments and camera views alone, often leading to imprecise grasping or missed abnormalities like tumors.

The innovation from NYUAD's Advanced Microfluidics and Microdevices Laboratory (AMMLab) addresses this head-on with an "off-the-jaw" sensing system. Unlike previous designs that cluttered tool tips with sensors, this clever setup places detectors right on the handle. It delivers real-time data on grasping force, tissue stiffness, and even thickness, empowering surgeons to make safer, more accurate decisions during procedures like cholecystectomies or colorectal resections.

The Persistent Challenge of Tactile Loss in Modern Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery has transformed healthcare globally and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where adoption rates are surging. In the UAE, the MIS market is projected to grow from around USD 104 million in 2024 to USD 230 million by 2030, driven by advanced hospitals like Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City. Worldwide, MIS accounts for up to 94% of certain procedures, reducing hospital stays by days and complications by up to 50% in some cases.

Yet, without haptics—the sense of touch—surgeons apply roughly twice the necessary force, risking tissue tears or slippage. Distinguishing healthy from diseased tissue is tricky; cancerous lumps can be 10 to 60 times stiffer than normal organs. This gap prolongs training for novices, who rely heavily on visual cues, and heightens error risks in complex operations. Robotic systems like da Vinci exacerbate the issue, further isolating surgeons from physical sensations.

How the Off-the-Jaw System Works: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

The NYUAD system is elegantly simple yet profoundly effective. Here's how it operates:

• Sensor Placement: A force-sensitive resistor sits on the thumb ring to measure handle squeeze pressure (up to 15 Newtons with 50 millinewton precision). A rotary potentiometer at the pivot tracks jaw opening angle (0 to 70 degrees, 0.2-degree accuracy).
• Data Capture: As jaws close on tissue, the angle at initial contact is noted. Further closure reveals deformation based on Hooke's law, where strain equals deformation divided by tissue thickness.
• Stiffness Calculation: A stiffness index is computed as force divided by strain, approximating Young's modulus. Thickness is derived from full closure angle minus initial contact.
• Feedback Delivery: An Arduino microcontroller processes data instantly. A screen shows a deforming circle (visualizing strain), color codes force levels (green safe, red warning), and a vibration motor alerts on excess pressure.

This plug-and-play design swaps end effectors like fundus or Maryland graspers without recalibration, keeping tools sterile and unmodified.

Rigorous Testing Validates Precision and User Gains

Lab phantoms made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)—a silicone mimicking human tissues (20 kPa to 3 MPa stiffness)—underwent extensive trials. The system accurately differentiated thin (9 mm) from thick (15 mm) samples and soft from stiff ones, with consistent stiffness indices regardless of size.

Preclinical simulator tests involved novice and expert surgeons sorting stiffness or detecting hidden lumps in bowel models. Feedback slashed errors to zero for novices (from 17%) and cut task times by 30% across groups. Experts gained 20-30% speed boosts with perfect accuracy. Collaborators from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi confirmed its potential for real-world translation.IEEE Access publication details these results.

Earlier AMMLab work in 2022 tested jaw-mounted sensors on animal tissues like sheep bowel, proving lump detection and stiffness sorting.

Trailblazers: Qasaimeh, Othman, and the AMMLab Team

Leading the charge is Associate Professor Mohammad A. Qasaimeh, whose Mechanical and Bioengineering expertise drives AMMLab's focus on microdevices for cancer diagnostics and cell manipulation. Postdoctoral researcher Wael Othman, first author on key papers, engineered the prototype. Contributors include Kojo E. Vandyck, Ma-Sum Abdul-Hamid from NYU New York, and UAE surgeons Carlos Abril and Juan P. Pantoja from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

"This 'off-the-jaw' approach eliminates contamination risks and integrates seamlessly," says Qasaimeh. Othman adds, "Trials show 30% efficiency gains, proving real impact." AMMLab's broader portfolio includes circulating tumor cell capture and 3D cancer organoids, positioning NYUAD as a UAE medtech hub.NYUAD's announcement highlights this synergy.

UAE's Rising Star in Higher Education MedTech Innovation

NYUAD exemplifies UAE's higher education push toward research excellence. With over 80 faculty labs, NYU Abu Dhabi fosters multidisciplinary work, supported by UAE's Vision 2031 emphasizing knowledge economy and healthcare R&D. The country's 57,000 new HE enrollments in 2025 underscore this, alongside blockchain degree attestation pilots and AI hubs like Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI (MBZUAI).

Collaborations with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi bridge academia and clinics, accelerating tech like haptics to UAE operating rooms. UAE's MIS growth mirrors global trends, with Middle East market hitting USD 13.41 billion by 2033, fueled by robotics and precision tools.

Patient and Surgeon Benefits: Precision Meets Safety

For patients, enhanced haptics mean gentler handling, fewer complications, and better outcomes in UAE's world-class facilities. Surgeons gain confidence, especially trainees facing steep MIS learning curves. Studies show haptics cut force errors, improve knot-tying, and boost performance by 20-50% in simulators.

• Reduced tissue trauma from over-grasping.
• Better tumor detection via stiffness cues.
• Shorter procedures, lower costs.
• Scalable to telesurgery amid UAE's global talent draw.

In robotics, where feedback is nil, this could integrate via handle proxies, revolutionizing UAE's robotic adoption in urology and gynecology.

Broader Impacts: From Training to Telemedicine

NYUAD's system lowers barriers for MIS training in UAE universities like University of Sharjah or Khalifa University, where med programs emphasize hands-on simulation. Globally, it aids telemedicine, vital for remote UAE areas or expatriate consultations.

Future refinements include microfluidic sensors for finer resolution and AI for predictive analytics. AMMLab eyes robotic compatibility, potentially slashing UAE's surgical errors, which affect 10-15% of procedures worldwide.

NYU Abu Dhabi's Pivotal Role in UAE Higher Ed Landscape

As a beacon of UAE higher education, NYUAD's interdisciplinary ethos—blending engineering, bio, and clinical partners—fuels innovations addressing real needs. With UAE universities topping QS Arab rankings (University of Sharjah #1), research output surges, from MBZUAI's AI to Khalifa's 6G. NYUAD's grants like AD129 underscore Abu Dhabi's USD billions in R&D investment.

This haptic advance not only elevates UAE's medtech profile but inspires careers in biomedical engineering, drawing global talent to NYUAD's programs.

Photo by Mathilde Cureau on Unsplash

Looking Ahead: Transforming Surgery in the UAE and Beyond

NYUAD's haptic sensors herald a tactile renaissance in keyhole surgery, promising safer UAE operations and global ripple effects. As AMMLab refines prototypes, expect clinical trials soon, potentially standardizing feedback in laparoscopic suites. For UAE's youthful med workforce, it means better training; for patients, superior care. This fusion of higher ed research and healthcare innovation cements NYU Abu Dhabi's legacy in advancing human health.