2023 Hamlyn Symposium

Untethered micro and nano robotics for healthcare applications

Introduction

This workshop will focus on the current challenges and developments in the field of untethered micro/nano robotics for healthcare applications, with a particular emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in these systems. The use of untethered devices in medical applications has the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat various conditions, but significant challenges remain in areas such as navigation, control, and integration with AI/ML.

The workshop will bring together leading researchers, engineers, and clinicians to discuss the current state-of-the-art in untethered micro/nano robotics and explore new fabrication techniques, novel materials, and innovative methods for visualizing and controlling these devices. Attendees will learn about various techniques and applications of untethered micro/nano robots, including those using magnetic fields, chemical gradients, and light illumination for actuation and control. The workshop will also explore the potential benefits and challenges of deploying these devices in vivo, with a focus on the use of AI/ML to improve navigation, control, and diagnostic capabilities.

In addition, the workshop will also focus on the next application for micro/nano robotics in healthcare, which is the diagnostic. There will be talks and discussions on how these devices can be used to improve diagnostic methods and enable early detection of diseases. The use of AI/ML techniques to process data collected by these devices will also be discussed. Throughout the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to network with leading researchers in the field, learn about the latest developments in untethered micro/nano robotics, and gain insights into the current challenges and future directions of this field. The workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the field and will be of interest to researchers, engineers, clinicians, and anyone interested in the application of untethered micro/nano robotics in healthcare.

Programme

08:30 Registration & Coffee

09:00 Opening: Welcome & Introduction

09:05 Microrobotics for clinical translation: bottlenecks and potentials

Arianna Menciassi

09:35 CELLOIDS: towards cell-inspired autonomous microrobots

Stefano Palagi

10:05 Magnetic particle imaging based targeted therapy of brain disorders

Jungwon Yoon

10:30 Coffee Break

11:00 Swarm Engineering Across Scales

Sabine Hauert

11:30 Imaging and control of medical microrobots

Mariana Medina Sanchez

12:00 Magnetic microrobot individual and collective steering

Ali Hoshiar

12:30 Lunch Break

13:30 Actuating and Tracking Magnetic Robots in the Gut

Eric Diller

14:00 Ultrasound-powered microrobots towards localized drug delivery

Amirreza Aghkhani

14:30 Harnessing acoustic forces and hydrodynamics to actuate biomedical microdevices

Selman Sakar

15:00 Coffee Break

15:30 Fillable Microrobotic Systems for Targeted Drug Delivery

Rujie Sun

16:00 Wireless Microrobots and Micromachines: Ultrasound Technology

Daniel Ahmed

16:30 Swarms of chemical nanomotors for cancer treatment: the case of bladder cancer

Samuel Sanchez

16:55 Closing Remarks

Learning Outcomes

• A comprehensive understanding of the current state-of-the-art in untethered micro/nano robotics for healthcare applications, including techniques and applications using magnetic fields, chemical gradients, and light illumination for actuation and control.

• An understanding of the challenges and limitations of deploying untethered micro/nano robots in vivo, with a focus on navigation, control, and integration with AI/ML.

• Knowledge of new fabrication techniques, novel materials, and innovative methods for visualizing and controlling untethered micro/nano robots in healthcare.

• Insights into the potential benefits and challenges of using micro/nano robots for diagnostic purpose, including the use of AI/ML techniques to process data collected by these devices.

• Exposure to the latest research and developments in the field through invited talks and presentations by leading researchers and practitioners.

• Opportunities to network with and learn from other researchers, engineers, clinicians, and practitioners working in the field of untethered micro/nano robotics for healthcare applications

• A better understanding of the future direction and potential of untethered micro/nano robotics in healthcare.

• The ability to think critically about the challenges of developing and deploying untethered micro/nano robots in healthcare and develop solutions to overcome those challenges.

Organisers

Dr. Meysam Keshavarz, Imperial College London Prof. Simone Schürle, ETH Zurich Dr. Dandan Zhang, Bristol University

FULL DAY WORKSHOP

2022 Phase

Date/location: 28-30 June 2022, Bristol, UK

Website: phase2022.org

We are very pleased to announce the Perspectives in Hybrid Autonomous Systems Engineering (PHASE 2022) in-person symposium, which will bring together experts from academia and industry to discuss and debate what the next generations of autonomous systems will look like - systems that must be designed to have the human in or on the loop. Themes will range across human factors, systems, architecture, ethics, trust, robotics and autonomy. The 3-day programme will include a variety of keynote and contributing speakers, poster sessions, a conference banquet and drinks reception, all hosted in Bristol between 28-30 June 2022.

PLENARY SPEAKERS (CONFIRMED)

Missy Cummings (Duke University) Human-Computer Role Allocation in Safety Critical Systems with Embedded AI Verena Hafner (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) Prerequisites for an Artificial Self Simon Powers (Edinburgh Napier University) Working together and valuing each other – building deeply cooperative socio-technical systems Amanda Prorok (University of Cambridge) Deconfliction in Multi-Unit Systems: Communication, Explanation, and Fairness Sarvapali Ramchurn, (University of Southampton) Trustworthy Human-Machine Teaming Sarah Sharples (UK Department for Transport) Hybrid Autonomous Systems Engineering for Transport Anna Trujillo (NASA Langley Research Center) True Partnership: An Actual Human Machine Team Alan Winfield (UWE Bristol) The birth of a new standard: IEEE 7001-2021 on Transparency of Autonomous Systems Dandan Zhang (University of Bristol) Human-Robot Shared Control for Robotic Surgery Across Scales

2022 Hamlyn Symposium Workshop

We organized a workshop for 2022 Hamlyn Symposium.

The medical robotics field is making a solid road towards its quest of non-invasive and non-disruptive surgical technologies to provide safe, effective and seamless therapies. The surgical technology has advanced various methodologies to transfer and enhance the surgeon’s dexterity to the surgical site while reducing soft tissue trauma. This has been achieved by breaking down and transforming the complex surgeon-robot-tissue interaction. The emergence of soft and hybrid robotic tools and robots in recent years is promising to provide hyper redundancy and dexterity while reducing soft tissue trauma. Sensing and modeling techniques of the surgeon-robot interaction are enhanced by haptic technologies to enhance surgical robot control.

Higher robot dexterity and redundancy raise stakes for intuitive control and autonomy, while models of surgeon-robot interaction assume a through-body physical coupling highly dependent on tissue site sensing. In recent years, cooperative control has been shown to further enhance the intervention outcomes by sophisticated coupling between the robot and surgeon, with benefits to the ergonomy of the surgical procedure and robot precision. Machine learning algorithms have been incorporatedinto such robotic platforms, yet challenges still exist around context awareness, computational requirements. Questions still remain about what is the balance between the levels of autonomy in order to maintain safety and efficacy. What is the guidance according to which we adjust the levels of autonomy of the intervention or therapy?

The workshop aims to raise discussions around this question, rooted in state of art research and clinical experience, seeking guidance on the development of hybrid instruments following participatory design with surgeons and related medical experts.

The workshop will consist of plenary talks by established and leading robotics and clinical experts in the field followed by short talks by experts and rising leaders in the field. The presenters’ gender balance will be maintained at all levels of seniority. The workshop will close with a forum discussion during which we inquire and formulate principles of versatile and seamless technologies which emerge during this workshop. We will invite poster submissions on workshop related topics and encourage PhD and early career researchers as well as junior doctors to participate.

https://hamlynsymposium.org/events/towards-versatile-and-seamless-surgical-technologies/

Date: Wednesday 29th June 2022

Time: 09:00-17:00

Programme:

Coming soon.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding of the main current and future challenges to versatile and seamless surgical technologies;

• Identifying the main principles and methodologies for versatile and seamless surgical technologies;

• Identifying the future of instrument design for optimal access and reduced tissue trauma;

• Understanding surgeon’s perspective in co-design process for fast clinical innovation adoption;

• Understanding how cooperative control can help surgeons conduct complex surgical procedures;

• Understanding how cooperative control can increase efficiency and precision in surgical procedures.;

• Understanding how machine learning algorithms can support decision-making and automation for surgical operation.;

• Understanding the latest developments and specific use cases of cooperative control, semi-autonomous or autonomous surgical robotic platforms for different types of surgery;

• Understanding the challenges and future directions of cooperative control and autonomous robotic system for surgery;

• Focus article on this topic which will be shared with the wider public.