prof. dr. Sarthak Misra has been awarded the NWO Demonstrator grant

Prof. dr. Sarthak Misra from the Surgical Robotics Laboratory in our Department has been awarded the NWO Demonstrator grant. The project is called VIPER – Vascular Interventions PErformed by Robots, worth of 160 k€. Endovascular interventions use flexible instruments to provide treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Robotic steering of these instruments has emerged as a novel technique offering clinicians unparalleled dexterity. The aim of VIPER is to enable use of magnetic surgical instruments by creating a clinic-ready robotic system capable of generating external fields. The resulting system will be able to accurately actuate magnetic surgical instruments, thereby truly revolutionizing minimally invasive surgery, and opening a new market for advanced diagnosis and treatment options. VIPER will provide an indispensable tool, satisfying the needs of clinicians for precise and comprehensive surgical interventions in hard-to-reach locations within the human body. VIPER aspires to turn magnetic actuation into a commercially successful technology. VIPER involves motivated clinicians, strong industrial collaborations, and a dedicated business development team in an ambitious quest to make that happen.