UWIPOM2 · Project

Wireless-Powered Micro-Robotic Joints Enabling Next-Generation Minimally Invasive Surgery

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine a tiny robotic joint — smaller than a grain of sand — that can move and rotate inside your body without any wires or batteries. That's what this team built: a micro-motor with a gearbox, powered wirelessly by radio waves, giving it essentially unlimited runtime. Think of it like a miniature power tool for surgeons, small enough to work inside blood vessels or organs. The goal is to make surgeries far less invasive by letting tiny robots do precise work from the inside.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries represented

physical demo deliverables built

40%

industry ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Current minimally invasive surgery is limited by the size and power constraints of surgical instruments — you cannot get a powered, articulated tool small enough to operate inside tiny spaces in the body without trailing wires or bulky batteries. This means many procedures still require large incisions, longer recovery times, and higher risk for patients. Hospitals and device makers need a breakthrough in micro-scale powered mechanisms to unlock the next generation of surgical techniques.

The solution

What was built

The team built a micrometric-scale wireless-powered robotic joint consisting of a micro-motor and friction-reducing gearbox, powered by gigahertz electromagnetic waves. They produced 3 physical demo systems: a micro-assembly system for bonding parts, a multipolar micro-magnetization system for the rotor, and micro-bearings units for the prototype assembly.

Audience

Who needs this

Surgical robotics companies (e.g., makers of robotic-assisted surgery platforms)MEMS component manufacturers looking to enter medical devicesWireless power transfer companies targeting implantable medical devicesMedical device companies developing next-generation minimally invasive instrumentsUniversity hospitals running clinical research on micro-surgical techniques

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical device manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Companies developing surgical robots or minimally invasive surgical instruments

If you are a surgical robotics company dealing with the physical limits of how small you can make powered instruments — this project developed a wirelessly powered micro-robotic joint with a micro-motor and friction-reducing gearbox, tested in in-vivo-like conditions. It could let you build surgical tools that operate inside the body without tethered power, opening up procedures that current devices simply cannot reach.

MEMS and micro-electromechanical systems

mid-size

Target: MEMS foundries and micro-component manufacturers

If you are a MEMS manufacturer looking for next-generation product lines beyond sensors and actuators — this project created specialized micro-assembly equipment, micro-magnetization systems, and micro-bearings units at micrometric scale. These fabrication techniques and components could expand your portfolio into powered micro-mechanisms for healthcare and other precision applications.

Wireless power transfer technology

SME

Target: Companies specializing in wireless energy transmission for implantable or miniature devices

If you are a wireless power company struggling to efficiently deliver energy to extremely small devices inside the human body — this project demonstrated gigahertz electromagnetic wave powering of a micrometric joint, providing what they describe as infinite autonomy. This technology could be licensed or integrated into your existing wireless charging platforms for medical implants and micro-devices.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or access this micro-robotic joint technology?

The project does not publish licensing fees or pricing. As a publicly funded RIA project, results are typically available through licensing agreements with the consortium partners. Contact the coordinator at Universidad de Alcala to discuss terms.

Can this technology be manufactured at industrial scale?

The project built specialized equipment for micro-assembly and micro-magnetization, suggesting the manufacturing process is still custom and lab-based. Scaling to industrial volumes would require significant investment in production tooling and process automation. Based on available project data, this is not yet at mass-production readiness.

What is the intellectual property situation?

As a FET Open project with 5 partners across 4 countries, IP is likely shared among consortium members under the grant agreement. The consortium includes 2 industry partners and 1 SME, which typically negotiate exploitation rights. Specific patent filings would need to be verified directly with the coordinator.

How far is this from being used in actual surgeries?

The project tested the micro-robotic joint in in-vivo-like environments, not in actual clinical settings. Medical device certification (CE marking, FDA approval) would still be required, which typically adds years to the timeline. This is still at the proof-of-concept stage for clinical use.

What specific components were physically built and demonstrated?

The project produced 3 demonstrated deliverables: a micro-assembly system for bonding separate parts, a multipolar micro-magnetization system for the rotor, and micro-bearings units suitable for assembly in the prototype. These confirm that physical hardware was built, not just simulations.

Does this only work for surgery, or are there other applications?

While the project focused on minimally invasive micro-surgery and in-vivo health treatments, a wirelessly powered micrometric joint is a building block technology. Based on available project data, the team describes it as the first building block able to power future healthcare micro-robots, suggesting broader medical robotics applications beyond surgery.

Consortium

Who built it

The UWIPOM2 consortium brings together 5 partners from 4 countries (Spain, Ireland, Poland, UK), with a healthy 40% industry ratio — 2 industry partners including 1 SME alongside 2 universities and 1 research organization. The coordinator is Universidad de Alcala in Spain. For a business looking to engage, the presence of industry partners signals that commercialization thinking was part of the project from the start, though the FET Open funding scheme indicates this is still early-stage, high-risk research rather than near-market development.

UNIVERSIDAD DE ALCALACoordinator · ES
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC LIMITEDparticipant · IE
POLITECHNIKA WARSZAWSKAparticipant · PL
FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIAparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Universidad de Alcala (Spain) — search for UWIPOM2 project lead in their robotics or MEMS research group

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSIDAD DE ALCALA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this micro-robotic joint technology or connecting with the research team? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction and help you assess the business fit.

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