Versatile Soft Catheter System for Advanced Endoluminal and Tissue Navigation

About the Project

This project envisions revolutionizing endoluminal catheterization through the integration of soft robotics, embodied intelligence, and artificial intelligence. This innovation aims to enable minimally invasive interventions deep within the body via automated multi-modal tissue and endoluminal navigation.

Typically, medical access to vital organs is achieved through direct open surgery, laparoscopy, needle-sized incisions, or navigating body lumens. While a close entry site is often preferred to reduce surgery time, remote entry sites, such as the groin for endovascular interventions, can be used due to limited haemorrhage and recurrent stroke risks. These body lumens act as highways to the intervention site, minimizing risks like secondary stroke, excessive arterial bleeding, and damage to proximal nerves.

Safe access and effective navigation within body lumens, such as blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid pathways, provide comprehensive access to most organs. Imagine a stable, leakage-proof incision to exit the body lumen and continue navigation in surrounding tissue for even deeper access, reaching areas not immediately adjacent to blood vessels.

The vision for this project is to make such multi-modal navigation for deep body access possible. Robotic Mechanical Thrombectomy and Neuroendoluminal catheterization are key clinical applications that underpin this vision.

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Funding Notes

Studentship pays Home tuition fees and an annual stipend of £22,618 p.a.