Karlsruhe Surgical Robotics Research

Since eight years a group for surgical robotics research is established at the Institute for Process Control and Robotics (IPR). Starting with the Collaborative Research Center 414, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), our reseach interests cover all topics concerning support of surgical interventions. A basic work flow from patient data acquisition to intraoperative supporting systems e.g. surgical robots, augmented reality systems etc. is forming the frame of the group ́s research activities. The paper gives an overview of the research activities of IPR Medical Robotics Group. Two major systems are developed for supporting the surgeon, the robot system RobaCKa and the augmented reality system PROBARIS. In research patient studies approbated by the Ethic Commission of the University Heidelberg both systems will be approved in clinical trial. Beside the close cooperation in medical technology research with our clinical partners in various medical centers there is a strong collaboration with industrial partners in order to be close to market demands.