The Biorobotics research domain develops engineering solutions based on robotic technology to improve the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of widespread diseases in society.
Examples of these widespread diseases are cancer, cardiovascular diseases, strokes and mobility deficiencies. We see robotics as a pervasive technology, which can revolutionize our society by addressing the challenges we face in healthcare, daily support and collaborative work. Robotic solutions must co-exist and co-work with people to improve our way of living and wellbeing. That’s why people-centered robotics is our main focus. The interaction between people and robot(s) needs to be both natural, easy to use and adaptable, from fully operated to fully autonomous.
Developing relevant solutions
In our two Robotic Surgery labs, new robotic instruments and methodologies are studied to improve diagnosis and treatments for both patients and healthcare professionals. Multi-disciplinary teams of engineers, clinicians, and industrial collaborators develop solutions for a broad range of clinically-relevant challenges. Students of our bachelor and master programs in Biomedical engineering and Technical Medicine are also actively involved in these teams. The challenges vary from mri-guided breast biopsy procedures with a robotic needle manipulator to CT- and ultrasound guided robotics and needle steering, and modeling needle-tissue interactions.
Wearable robotics
We also work on improving the quality of life for humans with a movement disorder. In the wearable robotics lab of the University of Twente, we develop new interventions and diagnostic techniques based on fundamental insight in (impaired) human motor control. The application area is in therapeutic & diagnostic robotics and assistive technologies. These foci cross many diagnostic categories, including stroke, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s disease. Examples of assistive technologies include exoskeletons that would enable over-ground mobility in the face of paralysis or other disorders.