The University of Twente (UT) has received a major boost for medical innovation.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) signed an agreement for approximately €560,000 in funding from the Twente University Fund to develop a groundbreaking wireless capsule navigation system. The system is being developed together with Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) and Radboudumc. The project is designed with real clinical needs in mind. The goal of the project is to make medical procedures safer, faster, and more precise.
The project has three main goals:
- Create a wireless capsule system that doctors can use for gastrointestinal examinations
- Use this system to remove blood clots with tiny robots
- Target tumors precisely using microrobotic technology
A PhD candidate will lead the project, working on both the technical development and the preparation for medical certification. Within two years, MST will have a working clinical system, and full certification is planned within four years. In the Netherlands alone, around 80,000 patients each year could benefit from this technology. Procedures will be quicker, less invasive, and more accurate, reducing unnecessary follow-ups and saving hospitals €500–€1,000 per patient. The same system can also be adapted for targeted tumor treatments. Tiny, biocompatible robots can deliver radiation directly to a tumor and thus minimising damage to healthy tissue. This is a potential game-changer for hard-to-reach cancers.
The funding supports strong collaboration between UT, MST, and Radboudumc, combining engineering expertise with clinical experience to bring innovation from the lab to the patient. With this project, UT is taking a step toward smarter, safer, and more efficient healthcare.
