Miniaturisation and Optimisation of Ultrasonic Scalpels for Robotic Surgery

This project will explore both sensing and surgical procedures with robotic deployment. For sensing, it will first identify one or a small number of relevant potential medical procedures. It will then consider the operating frequency and ultrasonic transducer configurations that may be appropriate, taking into account realistic ultrasonic device capabilities, the parameters associated with robotic deployment, and the detailed workflow of the medical procedures.
A viable prototype configuration will be designed and physical implementation and demonstration will follow. The sensing capabilities will also take into account the need for integration with ultrasonically-actuated surgical tools. Work in that area will begin with a review of tools for a range of procedures, focusing particularly on the potential of miniaturisation for intracorporeal robotic deployment, and the relationship with ultrasonic sensing.
A small number of relevant potential medical procedures will be identified. One or a small number of ultrasonically-actuated surgical tools will be developed, using design and prototyping approaches established in other projects and exciting new piezoelectric materials with the potential to reduce size and weight and increase drive efficiency. These will be demonstrated with robotic deployment in realistic simulations using artificial materials and ex vivo tissue, including complete animal cadavers.
The final key phase of the project will take the understanding and physical implementations for sensing and surgery and combine them into a single demonstration system, where the ultrasonically-actuated surgery will be monitored and controlled in a simple manner with information drawn from ultrasound sensing and other sources.

FUSE has been designed to maximise impact in partnership with industry, international academics, and other organisations such as NPL and the NHS. It includes funded mechanisms to deal with opportunities in equality, diversity and integration (EDI) and in realisation of impactful outcomes.

EDI is aimed at realising the full potential of the talented individuals that join FUSE. Funding mechanisms include support for ten undergraduate internships to prime the pipeline into FUSE research studentships; part-time studentships reserved for people with specific needs to access this route; and talent scholarships for people from Widening Participation backgrounds. Additionally, cultural issues will be addressed through funded support for work life-balance activities and for workshops exploring the enhancement of research creativity and inventiveness through diversity.

People: As a community, FUSE will contribute to impact principally through its excellent training of outstanding people. At least 54 EngD and PhD graduates will emerge with very high value skills from the experience FUSE will provide in ultrasonics and through highly relevant professional skills. This will position them perfectly as future leaders in ultrasonics in the types of organisation represented by the partners.

Knowledge: FUSE will also create significant knowledge which will be captured in many different forms including industrial know-how, patents and processes, designs, and academic papers. Management of this knowledge will be integrated into the students' training, including data management and archival, and will be communicated effectively to those in positions to exploit it.

Economic Gain: In turn, the people and knowledge will lead to the economic impact that FUSE is ultimately designed to generate. The close interaction between the FUSE academics, its research students and industry partners will make it particularly efficient and, since FUSE includes both suppliers and customers, the transition from knowledge creation to exploitation will be accelerated.

Societal Benefit: FUSE is well placed to deliver a number of societal benefits which will reinforce our researcher training and external partner impacts. This activity encompasses new consumer products; improved public safety through advanced inspection across many industrial sectors; and new modalities for medical surgery and therapy. In addition, FUSE will provide engaging demonstrators to promote education in science, technology, engineering and maths, helping replenish the FUSE pipeline and supporting growth of the FUSE community far beyond its immediate members.

Impactful outcomes will gain from several specific funding mechanisms: horizon scanning workshops will focus on specific ultrasonic engineering application areas with industrial and other external participation; all FUSE students will have external partners and both industrial and international academic secondments will be arranged, as well as EngD studentships primarily in industry; and industry case studies will be considered. There will also be STEM promotion activity, funding ultrasonic technology demonstrators to support school outreach and public science and engineering events.