Imagine trying to find a hard pebble inside a balloon without being able to see it. Surgeons face this when removing tumors through tiny incisions, as they can't feel the tissue with their fingers. This tool acts like a high-tech fingertip that can 'feel' hardness and send that information back to the doctor. It uses light and air to detect where the tissue is stiffest, helping ensure no cancer is left behind.
Minimally invasive surgery lacks the tactile feedback (palpation) that surgeons rely on in open surgery to find tumors. This increases the risk of leaving cancerous tissue behind, leading to unsuccessful surgeries and tumor regrowth.
A 5mm tactile sensing probe featuring a pneumatically actuated end-effector and a stiffness reconstruction module. It includes a non-planar photonics circuit engraved on ultra-thin polymeric foil.
If you are a tool manufacturer dealing with the lack of haptic feedback in current MIS tools — this project developed a 5mm diameter probe that uses optical fibers to identify tissue stiffness. This allows your products to provide the sense of touch previously missing in keyhole surgery.
If you are a robotics company dealing with accidental tissue damage due to limited tactile data — this project developed a 3DOF pneumatically actuated end-effector. This integration provides distributed tactile sensing to improve the precision of robotic organ manipulation.
If you are a clinic dealing with high rates of repeated tumor growth due to incomplete removal — this project developed a stiffness reconstruction module. This helps surgeons locate the exact margins of tumorous tissue during the first procedure.
Based on available project data, the specific price is not listed, but the use of thin polymeric foils is intended to enable low cost in large volumes.
Yes, the project utilizes a straightforward manufacturing process involving ultra-thin polymeric foils to facilitate large-volume production.
Based on available project data, specific patent or licensing details are not provided in the summary.
The probe is designed with a 5mm diameter to fit through standard incisions smaller than 2 cm, making it compatible with current laparoscopic shafts.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2026-12-31, suggesting the technology is currently in development and testing phases.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, consisting of 10 partners across 7 countries. With a 30% industry ratio (3 industrial partners), there is a clear bridge between the 4 universities and 2 research centers and the actual market. The presence of an SME suggests a focus on agile development and potential spin-off capabilities.
Contact TECH HIVE LABS ASTIKI MI KERDOSKOPIKI ETAIREIA in Greece
Contact us to facilitate a licensing discussion with the PALPABLE consortium.
