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ISGIE Best Paper Award: Dr Khim Wah Kam, Olympus, Dr Pei Wen Felicia Chung, Olympus, Mr O Léon Barded, University of Zaragoza, Spain, Prof Davide Lomanto, University of Singapore, Dr Luigi Manfredi, University of Dundee (left to right).

We have organised a workshop focused on novel scientific contributions to vision systems, imaging algorithms as well as the autonomous system for endorobot for GI endoscopy. This includes lesion and lumen detection, as well as 3D reconstruction of the GI tract and hand-eye coordination. Applications include but are not limited to wireless capsule endoscopy, standard optical colonoscopy, as well as endorobots for endoscopy. Contributions should demonstrate potential clinical benefits describing current stage, development path and challenges to overcome before translation into clinical practice.

ISGIE Best Paper Award of US$ 1000 was sponsored by Olympus

Accepted papers will be published in Springer Nature's Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS).

Endorobotics: Design , R&D, and Future Trends

This book addresses the need for endorobots, describing the related medical requirements and applications.
The book comprises three parts.
The first part provides the state-of-the-art of robots for endoscopy (endorobots), including devices already available in the market and those that are still at the R&D stage.
The second part focusses on the engineering design; it includes the use of polymers for soft robotics, comparing their advantages and limitations with those of their more rigid counterparts. The third part includes the project management of a multidisciplinary team, the health cost of current technology, and how a cost-effective device can have a substantial impact on the market. It also includes information on data governance, ethical and legal frameworks, and all steps needed to make this new technology available.

Key Features
• Focusses on a new design paradigm for endorobotic applications
• Provides a unique collection of engineering, medical, and management contributions for endorobotics design
• Describes endorobotics, starting from the devices available in both clinical use and academia

Softech robotics

Winner: Venture Competition Staff Category 2020

Dr Luigi Manfredi staff Member from the School of Medicine was awarded £7,000 for his product which is a novel and low-cost disposable soft colonoscope for a painless CRC screening.‌

Scientific Reports

A Soft Pneumatic Device (SPID) for colonoscopy

The design of a smart robot for colonoscopy is challenging because of the limited available space, slippery internal surfaces, and tortuous 3D shape of the human colon. Locomotion forces applied by an endoscopic robot may damage the colonic wall and/or cause pain and discomfort to patients. This study reports a Soft Pneumatic Inchworm Double balloon (SPID) mini-robot for colonoscopy consisting of two balloons connected by a 3 degrees of freedom soft pneumatic actuator. SPID has an external diameter of 18 mm, a total length of 60 mm, and weighs 10 g. The balloons provide anchorage into the colonic wall for a bio-inspired inchworm locomotion. The proposed design reduces the pressure applied to the colonic wall and consequently pain and discomfort during the procedure. The mini-robot has been tested in a deformable plastic colon phantom of similar shape and dimensions to the human anatomy, exhibiting efficient locomotion by its ability to deform and negotiate flexures and bends. The mini-robot is made of elastomer and constructed from 3D printed components, hence with low production costs essential for a disposable device.

SCIENTIFIC RESULTS

"Smart Materials and Structures" Highlights 2017

Smart Material and Structure reported my journal paper "Low power consumption mini rotary actuator with SMA wires" in the highlights 2017. The journal has put together the articles published in 2017 based on their scientific merit, as identified by their reviewers, and they represent some of the most downloaded and widely read articles of the year.