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News • Pharmaceutical Automation and Digitalisation Congress

Why Clinical Trial Data Integration Is Becoming a High Priority for Pharma R&D

Discussion at the Pharmaceutical Automation and Digitalisation Congress (AUTOMA+) 2026 recognises that artificial intelligence is an important part of clinical innovation, positioning it as a practical tool for improving speed, decision accuracy and transparency in drug development. Industry attention is increasingly shifting towards AI-driven data ecosystems, advanced analytics and intelligent…

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NaoTrac, Fully-Autonomous Surgical Navigation Robot

NaoTrac is a fully autonomous surgical navigation robot designed to enhance precision, safety, and efficiency in neurosurgery. By seamlessly integrating advanced robotic technology with surgeons’ expertise, NaoTrac streamlines surgical workflows, shortens the learning curve, and improves overall clinical performance. With real-time trajectory visualization. It enables precise lesion…

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    News • Laboratory equipment and technology fair

    Labs Expo 2026: Two Days of Practical Knowledge, Technology, and Expert Discussions for Laboratories

    On March 18–19, 2026, Poznań will host the fourth edition of the Laboratory Equipment and Technology Trade Fair, Labs Expo – an event combining presentations of modern technological solutions with an intensive, content-rich conference program. This year’s agenda has been designed for practitioners, including laboratory managers, QC and R&D specialists, metrologists, auditors,…

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    O-arm O2 Surgical Imaging System

    Designed for surgeryFully mobileFlexible intra-operative 2D and 3D imagingEasy in use: All motions motorizedSeamless integration in OR-workflowEasy draping of breakable gantry for uncompromised sterile useRobotic memory positioning of up to 4 scan positions13s 360° 3D standard and low dose scanNew AI based Spine Smart Dose reconstruction: 7s scan time and dose savings up to 70% vs. standard2D…

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      Import PACS

      PACS for external data from CD / teleradiologyTemporary archive in addition to regular PACSManual web-based importAutomatic import with import robotData reconciliation with own IDs (IHE compliant)Delivery to regular PACS, Works with any other PACSAdjustable automatic data removalDICOM Q / R capable

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        Import Robot

        Automatic import robotImport of patient CD / DVD2, 5 or 10 drives2 import trays (regular / express)2 output trays (ok, failed)Optional virus scanCorrection of foreign dataAutomatic DICOM transferWorks with any PACS

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          Article • From promise to practice

          Healthcare AI's trust issues (and what it takes to overcome them)

          The promise of AI in healthcare is enormous – however, most who have actually worked with today's models will agree that the technology is not quite there yet. At MEDICA, a panel of AI experts and healthcare leaders tackled a fundamental question: What stands between AI's current state and its potential as a reliable healthcare companion? The discussion revealed that technical…

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          News • Pharmaceutical Automation and Digitalisation Congress

          Navigating the Digital Shift with AUTOMA+ 2025

          What have been the latest developments in digital R&D and lab automation, patient-centric design, digitalised manufacturing and supply chains? Highlighting the rise of a smart pharma, AUTOMA+ 2025 took place in Vösendorf, Austria on 24-25 November. The event was a dynamic interplay of technology, solutions and forward-thinking ideas.

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          Product • Autonomous surgical navigation robot

          Brain Navi • NaoTrac

          NaoTrac is a fully autonomous surgical navigation robot designed to enhance precision, safety, and efficiency in neurosurgery. By integrating advanced technologies with the expertise of surgeons, NaoTrac streamlines surgical workflows, shortens the learning curve, and improves patient outcomes.

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          Article • Medical Taiwan 2025

          Accelerating the journey of AI into clinical practice

          Medical Taiwan has long been a showcase for cutting-edge healthcare solutions, but this year marked a pivotal moment. Visitors of the latest edition of the medical, health and care expo in Taipei witnessed a particularly noticeable step forward: the definitive transition of medical AI from promising research to actual clinical practice. Organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council…

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          Article • Diagnostic and care support

          Atrial fibrillation: digital technology to the rescue?

          Machine learning (ML) for personalised care, large language models for empathy training of cardiologists, wearable sensor data for better screening, and more: Digital technologies hold great potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). At the ESC 2024 cardiology congress in London, four experts explored the benefits of new solutions and pointed out…

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          Article • Freezing cancer cells

          Cryoablation: A treatment option for low-risk early-stage breast cancer

          Cryoablation, the destruction of malignant cancer cells by freezing them, is increasingly becoming an alternative to having conventional lumpectomy for patients diagnosed with early-stage, localised, low-risk breast cancer. Findings from numerous recent clinical trials show that cancer recurrence rates are very low and are comparable to breast conservation surgery (BCS).

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          News • Trade show preview

          Medical Japan 2025 Osaka: Global innovations and networking opportunities

          The countdown has begun for Medical Japan 2025 Osaka, Western Japan’s leading medical and healthcare trade show, taking place from March 5-7, 2025, at INTEX Osaka, where industry professionals, thought leaders, and innovators will gather to showcase cutting-edge technologies, foster collaboration, and drive advancements in medical, elderly care, pharmacy, and healthcare.

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          Article • Product presentations at Medica 2024

          Taiwan offers AI support for surgeons

          Future-oriented large-scale investments on the one hand, political unrest on the other: The presentation of award-winning medical technology from Taiwan at Medica in Düsseldorf reflected a year full of changes and challenges. The prize-winning solutions for surgery, intensive care medicine, traumatology and endoscopy once again attracted a large professional audience.

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          Article • Transformative technology

          Debating the case for AI in pathology

          Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains a divisive topic within the discipline of pathology with a range of opinions over its current value and applicability in clinical settings. While most experts agree that the technology will not replace pathologists, it might still spell bad news for those who do not embrace AI in their daily practice. On the other hand, reservations persist about whether…

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          Article • Future treaments discussed at senology congress

          How will we treat breast cancer in 2034?

          The year: 2034. Breast cancer patients benefit from perfectly personalised diagnostics and therapies. The tedium of follow-up treatments is a thing of the past, thanks to AI, augmented reality and robotics. Just a tale from the realm of science fiction, or could this soon be clinical reality? At the annual meeting of the German Senologic Society, Prof Dr Marc Thill from the Agaplesion Markus…

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          Article • Company showcase: Medical Taiwan 2024

          Manufacturers from Taiwan present innovative products

          Handheld point-of-care diagnostics, magnetic endoscopy, AI-enhanced robotic surgery, smart patient information management, wireless minimally invasive surgery systems, and much more: At the Medical Taiwan Health & Care Expo in Taipei this summer, visitors had the opportunity to see innovative medical products and solutions across a wide range of specialties. We took a closer look at selected…

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          Article • Medical Taiwan Health & Care Expo

          Record attendance for medical solutions from Taiwan

          As demand for innovative healthcare solutions is at an all-time high, Medical Taiwan once again attracted a record number of visitors for its 2024 edition. The show’s organizer, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), proudly reported an increase in attendance by 10% compared with the previous year. During the three-day event in Taipei, the audience was treated to a wide range…

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          Article • Compared to laparoscopy

          Robotic surgery improves colorectal surgery outcomes

          When colorectal surgery was first performed with robotic assistance in 2014, the procedure was questioned about safety, efficacy, and outcomes. Today it is an established option. Well-trained surgeons use robotic surgical systems confidently. Numerous clinical studies have verified its intraoperative benefits for patients and surgeons alike, as well as very positive outcomes for patients.

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          Sponsored • Diagnostic imaging in Rome

          Brand-new nuclear medicine department equipped with advanced Total-Body PET/CT system

          The new Nuclear Medicine Department of the San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital was inaugurated in Rome. The Department was inaugurated with the online intervention of Health Minister Orazio Schillaci and in the presence of Maria Tripodi (Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), Antonello Aurigemma (President of Lazio Regional Council).

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          Article • Affordable and widely accessible

          Robotics applied in support of patient wellbeing

          Keeping technology simple and affordable is key in helping patients to fully benefit from robotic systems, according to a leading expert in the field. While expensive and complex systems have been developed, Professor Heike Vallery believes the full potential of robotics in patient care will only be realised when they become more affordable and widely accessible. She also underlines the…

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          News • Battle of the AI large language models

          Elicit: A better ChatGPT for medical research?

          Researchers explored the potential of two generative AI models for answering clinical questions and literature selection for medical research – one fared signifcantly better than the other.

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          News • Medical trade fair

          MEDICA 2023: Düsseldorf at the centre of the global healthcare industry

          The world's leading medical trade fair MEDICA 2023 starts on Monday in Düsseldorf with more than 5,300 exhibiting companies from almost 70 nations and the kick-off event for the accompanying 46th German Hospital Day, which will be attended by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (via video link) and NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann. COMPAMED 2023 will take place parallel to MEDICA. As…

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          Article • Portable imaging

          Going mobile: advances in point-of-care ultrasound

          Ultrasound technology now plays a vital role in clinical diagnosis and management. Significant advances in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) have made it a versatile tool for assessment, diagnosis, and follow-up across various fields. New developments continue to expand its applications, improving patient care and outcomes.

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          Article • Need for diversity in training datasets

          Artificial intelligence in healthcare: not always fair

          Machine learning and AI are playing an increasingly important role in medicine and healthcare, and not just since ChatGPT. This is especially true in data-intensive specialties such as radiology, pathology or intensive care. The quality of diagnostics and decision-making via AI, however, does not only depend on a sophisticated algorithm but – crucially – on the quality of the training data.

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          News • Platform for new companies

          MEDICA 2023: Start-ups are shaking things up

          MEDICA trade fair (Nov 13-16, Düsseldorf) is a major event for start-ups entering the health sector. Hundreds of young developers seek business contacts for cooperation concerning funding, production, approval, marketing or sales of their products.

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          Article • Potential of large language models for nursing and health science education

          ChatGPT: the next big thing in cardiology?

          Hardly a day passes without new headlines about ChatGPT, the AI-powered large language model, and its potential applications in healthcare. First results have been somewhat sobering after the initial hype, with the AI’s “hallucinations” often replacing scientific truth. Still, Professor Philip Moons is convinced that the chatbot might bring actual benefits to nursing and health science…

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          News • Message from our partner

          Unleash the full potential of AI and robotics with Automa+ Health 2023

          Machines are getting smarter every day, and companies across the world are discovering new ways in which they can use AI to significantly enhance engagement and customer experience. That is why decision-makers from pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and healthcare providers gather to network and discuss the latest innovations, as well as the potential for both AI and robotics, at Healthcare…

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          Article • RFA, MWA, CRYO and IRE under scrutiny

          Thoracic interventions: new tools in the arsenal

          Experts presented state-of-the-art and emerging techniques to treat chest tumours and discussed common issues in the management of pneumothorax at RSNA 2022. Current ablation methods in the thorax include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), cryoablation (CRYO), irreversible electroporation (IRE) and pulsed electric field.

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          Sponsored • Health & Care Expo

          Taiwan goes “beyond healthcare”

          Post-pandemic problems, ageing societies, the impact of climate change on human health: To find solutions for new and ongoing healthcare challenges, thinking outside the box is crucial. This year’s Medical Taiwan Health & Care Expo took this approach to heart: True to its motto “beyond healthcare”, the event showcased a wide range of innovative products, promising start-up presentations…

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          Article • More quality time for patients

          Transport robots help care staff

          Surveys and studies regularly arrive at the same conclusion: care staff, particularly in hospitals, want more time to spend with the patients. Persistent staff shortages, however, continue to increase the staff’s workload and thus render this wish well-nigh impossible. But there might be help around the corner: the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA developed…

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          Article • Evolving technology

          Exosuits for human augmentation and assistance

          Exosuits are adding a new dimension to rehabilitation and human augmentation options for people with limited movements after sustaining injury. High-tech sensors, actuators, controllers and soft textiles are advancing the possibilities of exosuits, with 3D printed components further enhancing the power and accuracy of the devices. The latest innovations were outlined by exosuit expert Professor…

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          Article • “Embracing the future: Making robots for humans” at ICRA

          Conference unveils the latest developments in robotics and automation

          Ever-more sophisticated robots are advancing healthcare across a wide range of areas. Latest developments and research are being showcased in London from May 29 to June 2 at the 40th International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). The event is set to be the world’s largest gathering on robotics and automation with pioneers, inventors and innovators coming together with academics,…

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          Article • Good-bye “surgery first”

          Interventional radiology: out of the shadow and into the light

          Using imaging guidance, interventional radiology – a sub-discipline of diagnostic imaging – allows targeted and ultraprecise diagnostic and therapeutic procedures without anesthesia and without large incisions. Nevertheless, surgery continues to be widely considered the procedure of choice, making interventional radiology the Cinderella of the discipline. Professor Dr. Marco Das, Medical…

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          Article • Digitisation in the OR

          Robotic duo pushes boundaries of microsurgery

          One robot supports the surgeon’s control of tiny instruments, while another automatically keeps an eye on what is happening: With this novel combination, surgeons in Münster have successfully performed fully robot-assisted microsurgery for the first time. Presenting the new procedure at the Hornheide Specialist Clinic, the experts explain how the interaction of both robotic systems ensures…

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          Sponsored • 3D single-port surgery and 3D endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty

          Keep 2D endoscopy but see 3D vision

          One of the world’s leading endoscopic imaging system companies, MedicalTek (MDTK) from Taiwan, launches its brand new endoscopic visualization system, Darwin MS-301. While keeping the main feature – conversion of 2D endoscopic images to 3D – from its predecessor MonoStereo, Darwin delivers the twice-better performance, more intuitive control, and Rigid and Flexible scope modes.

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          Article • Trade fair special

          EUROPEAN HOSPITAL @ MEDICA 2025

          EUROPEAN HOSPITAL is at MEDICA 2025! We cover the most exciting topics of the leading trade fair, with reports on robot-assisted surgery, innovative AI approaches to radiology and lab medicine, and more. Click here to read the ePaper.

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            Article • Alternative to open surgical procedures gains traction

            The future of minimally invasive interventions

            In the future, many types of open surgeries will be replaced with minimally invasive interventions, predicts Kevin Cleary, PhD, engineering lead at the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Hospital, and Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology at George Washington University, both in Washington, D.C. Surgeons and interventional radiologists will be able…

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            Sponsored • User report

            Robotic assistance brings benefits for paediatric patients

            Robot-assisted surgery has seen marked advances in the past years and thus become a viable tool for more interventions. For example, the challenging field of paediatric surgery can benefit greatly from the new possibilities, reports Prof Wim van Gemert. Using the Senhance Surgical System from Asensus, the expert details on the advantages of the solution.

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            Sponsored • Senhance robotic system by Asensus

            Surgical robots are the future of medicine

            Esslingen is one of the most innovative regions worldwide. Thus, it does not come as a surprise that Esslingen‘s 660-bed hospital is interested in adopting cutting-edge technology. A surgical robot, to be precise.

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            News • Bone healing

            "Microrobots”: material morphs into bone

            Researchers have developed a combination of materials that can morph into various shapes before hardening. The material is initially soft, but later hardens through a bone development process that uses the same materials found in the skeleton.

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            Article • Mini-microscopes

            Are disposable robots conquering the labs of the future?

            The team at the Institute of Medical Device Technology at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, is developing methods to produce top-quality medical devices at affordable prices. Professor Dr Peter Pott, the director of the institute, turns to 3D printers to successfully realize his vision of “high end at low cost”.

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            Article • BCI

            Quantum sensors for next-gen brain-computer interfaces

            Connecting the brain with a machine has been a powerful dream of mankind. What used to be science fiction, from the Borg in Star Trek to the Matrix, has become mainstream thanks to Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg who have put their entrepreneurial commitments into the area of neurotechnology. Recently, Professor Surjo R. Soekadar outlined current and upcoming applications of brain-computer…

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            Article • Focused ultrasound

            Histotripsy: fighting tumors with microbubbles

            Focused ultrasound waves create microbubbles in a fluid – a phenomenon called cavitation. In a current study, this process is used to destroy liver tumors and metastases. In this Medica-tradefair.com interview, Prof. Maciej Pech talks about testing cavitation events generated during histotripsy, explains the process, and reveals its advantages.

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            Article • Medical technology event

            Overview: Compamed 2021

            Since Compamed could only be held digitally last year, due to the pandemic, the event now takes place publicly again. Almost 500 registrations from exhibitors prove that there is a high level of interest from medical technology suppliers – a huge step towards reaching normality again.

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            Sponsored • Trade fair presence

            A myriad of French innovations at Medica 2021

            This year as every year, the very best in global HealthTech will be converging on Dusseldorf for the Medica trade fair. With more than 127 companies attending the event from November 15-18, France will have one of the largest contingents there. Grouped together under the brand umbrella of “French Healthcare”, the French MedTech companies will be presenting their many innovations to industry…

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            Article • Digital infrastructure

            Update: 5G in German healthcare

            This September, the symposium 5G4Healthcare, organised by the Technical University of Applied Sciences (Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule - OTH) Amberg-Weiden, Germany, explored how 5G can contribute to greater efficiency in healthcare. The event was based on the insights from the 5G4Healthcare project at OTH. Launched in 2020, it is one of six research projects in the 5G innovation programme…

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            News • Trade fair presence

            Start-ups at Medica: Anticipation for two 'world cups'

            Medica trade fair (November 15-18) is once again a welcome field for many healthcare start-ups to present their products. The joint stand at the 'Medica Start-up Park' in Hall 12 has become the central cross-national meeting point for the healthcare start-up scene, the fair's organizers are pleased to report. "We bring innovators and investors together. This time, more than 40 start-ups are…

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            Article • New tools for the OR

            Promoting ‘robot readiness’ in surgery

            Using surgical robotic systems in OR settings brings many benefits, but there are also challenges that must be overcome before implementing the systems into surgical routine. We spoke with Megan Rosengarten, president of Medtronic’s Surgical Robotics business, about the technology, as well as the company’s efforts to promote the spread of robot-assisted surgery across Europe.

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            Article • Extended realities in the OR

            ‘XR is fusing surgical reality with medical images’

            Leading medical XR experts gathered at Shift Medical to discuss developments on the use of immersive technologies in medicine. We interviewed Doctor Egidijus Pelanis of Oslo University Hospital, about applying extended realities in the operating room.

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            News • Economic innovation

            European project to boost adoption of responsible robotics

            Robotics4EU is the European Commission’s answer to the unprecedented importance of robotics in modern economy. Launched officially in January 2021 under the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, Robotics4EU aims to take concrete steps to ensure a more widespread adoption of (AI-based) robots in the EU, particularly in the areas of Healthcare, Inspection and Maintenance of…

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            Article • Neuro- and spine surgery

            Perfection in the networked OR: robot, neuro-navigation and VR headsets

            At their workplace, neurosurgeons often have to make compromises since most ORs were not designed with the specific needs of their discipline in mind. To address this issue the University Hospital in Essen, Germany, equipped an OR especially for neuro- and spine surgery. The aim is nothing less than revolutionizing the field with the help of digitalisation and cutting-edge technology.

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            Article • Disaster victim identification

            Will CT scanning in post-mortem examinations mark the end of the scalpel?

            Post-mortem CT (PMCT) increasingly supports pathologists, radiologists and forensic investigators particularly in cases of gunshot fatalities, mass casualties, decomposed and concealed bodies, fire deaths, diving deaths, non-accidental injury cases, and road traffic deaths, in which CT can indicate a pattern of injuries. In Dublin this August, the post-mortem (autopsy) technique was discussed…

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            Article • Orthopaedic advances

            Virtual training by hip implant simulator

            Trainee trauma or orthopaedic surgeons have limited chances to practice hip replacement surgery before their first hands-on case. To change this, a team in the Dynamic HIPS project aim to improve this by creating a dynamic hip replacement simulator for future surgeons to practice the intervention and develop a reality-based feel for the procedure.

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            Article • Telehealth

            Sheba Beyond: Creating Israel’s first virtual hospital

            Israel’s first virtual hospital has been created following the advances and applications learned from using telemedicine tools and techniques to care for coronavirus patients in isolation wards. Sheba Beyond was established in January and over the last few months has successfully delivered care to patients across a range of areas. The development of the project was outlined to the DMEA –…

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            Article • Women in medical R&D

            Innovation depends on more than just technical skills

            Cécile Geneviève is one of the few women who lead research and development (R&D) at a major company and her increasingly female team reflects women’s growing interest in the field. But while gender balance is an important criterion, it takes a broad palette of skills to innovate to alleviate pain for millions of patients, she explained in an interview with Healthcare in Europe.

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            Article • Heard at SIIM 2021

            AI in radiology: unexpected benefits, unintended consequences

            Artificial intelligence (AI) could match the impact of PACS on radiology. Covid-19 stimulated the development and testing of AI diagnostic-aiding tools in radiology, an unintended consequence of the pandemic. More image data sets have been created to train AI software – an unexpected benefit for radiology research.

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            Article • Oncology

            Pancreatic cancer - current challenges and future direction

            Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, and one of the most difficult to treat. In 2020, an estimated 495,000 individuals worldwide were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and an estimated 466,000 died, according to statistics from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. Most patients with advanced disease die within a year of…

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            News • Panic prevention

            Drone helps elderly escape from burning nursing homes

            A student team at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) has introduced an interactive drone that guides elderly people to the exit during a fire in a nursing home, even before the fire brigade arrives. The Blue Jay Aeden is said to be the first interactive drone in the world that can transmit emotions and can fulfil an important function in saving people's lives.

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            News • Co-development research program

            Improving stroke treatment with robotics

            Medical robotics company Robocath and Rennes University Hospital announce the launch of a co-development research program using robotics to improve treatment for stroke victims. With the support of Philips France, this program will be implemented over the next four years. It will focus on the use of robotics in treating strokes, the second most common cause of death globally after myocardial…

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            Sponsored • Robotics in the OR

            Increased safety for patients und less stress for the surgeons

            In early 2020, Landeskrankenhaus (LKH – regional public hospital) Feldkirch in Austria procured two robotics systems. Dr Burghard Abendstein, head of department of Ob/Gyn, welcomes this – as he says – rather unusual but future-oriented decision of the hospital management and has been using the Asensus Senhance surgical system for laparoscopic procedures in gynaecology.

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            News • Robotic navigation

            Helping robots find their way in crowded emergency rooms

            Computer scientists at the University of California San Diego have developed a more accurate navigation system that will allow robots to better negotiate busy clinical environments in general and emergency departments more specifically. The researchers have also developed a dataset of open source videos to help train robotic navigation systems in the future. The team, led by Professor Laurel Riek…

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            News • Intervention premiere

            First robotic PCI performed in Belgium

            Medical robotics company Robocath announces the successful completion of first five robotic coronary angioplasties in Belgium. The Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) were performed on April 8 and 13 by Prof. Stefan Verheye, a recognized and highly experienced interventional cardiologist at ZNA Middelheim hospital in Antwerp, and his team. Robotic-assisted PCI has never been done before in…

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            Sponsored • Precise, affordable, and portable

            A health testing platform that consolidates multimodal and multiplex testing to one device

            Fluxergy envisions that a fully articulated democratized testing health system has the potential to reduce the likelihood and the ultimate severity of pandemics like Covid-19. Our mission is to unlock the true potential of diagnostics to play a far greater and more important role in the early detection of diseases and ongoing monitoring of health status, where and when it matters most: at the…

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            Article • Surgical robotics

            Elevating outcomes of surgery

            What’s in a name? In the case of Asensus Surgical, Inc., previously known as TransEnterix, Inc., the recent rebranding doubles as a mission statement for the manufacturer of surgical robotics systems: The initial ‘A’ stands for artificial intelligence and augmented surgery, reflecting the company’s emphasis on new technologies designed to enhance the operator’s cognition (‘sensus’…

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            News • Nano science

            Conductive hydrogel could replace brain tissue

            Due to their tissue-like mechanical properties, hydrogels are being increasingly used for biomedical applications; a well-known example are soft contact lenses. These gel-like polymers consist of 90 percent water, are elastic and particularly biocompatible. Hydrogels that are also electrically conductive allow additional fields of application, for example in the transmission of electrical signals…

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            Article • Shaping daily activities for elderly fragile people

            Meet 'Tessa' the little robot helper

            ‘Hello Tessa. Do you know what I’m doing today?’ a fragile, elderly woman asks tentatively. The small robot she’s addressing has a decorative plant on its head and is wearing a jacket. This is not a funny fantasy. Tessa has proved ‘her’ usefulness and acceptability. The little robot results from a year-long pilot project recently completed in the Netherlands by the Groene Kruis…

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            News • Commercial-scale manufacturing

            1.4 million grant for resorbable implant development

            Medtech company BellaSeno and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT have received a grant totaling EUR 1.4 million for the development of commercial-scale, fully automated additive manufacturing of resorbable medical implants. The grant was issued by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the funding program KMU-innovativ. BellaSeno and Fraunhofer IPT…

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            Video • Evaluation of contact-free interaction model

            Talking to a 'robotic doc'? Most patients wouldn't mind

            In the era of social distancing, using robots for some health care interactions is a promising way to reduce in-person contact between health care workers and sick patients. However, a key question that needs to be answered is how patients will react to a robot entering the exam room. Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently set out to answer that question. In a study…

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            News • Virtual booth at ECR 2021

            Ziehm Imaging presents clinical packages for cardiovascular intervention

            At this year's virtual ECR congress, Ziehm Imaging showcases its portfolio of mobile C-arms and advanced imaging solutions. Highlights on display include two clinical packages for cardio and vascular interventions based on the fully motorized Ziehm Vision RFD Hybrid Edition, that provide clinical users with state-of-the-art imaging support and further workflow integration. The virtual booth,…

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            News • Restoring movement and ability

            Brain implants: the key to mobility after stroke?

            Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds in the US, resulting in death every 4 minutes. Stroke is the leading cause of disability from a medical condition. When it happens, blood clots or bleeds kill a part of the brain – it goes dark – and can no longer control part of the body. People stop being able to walk, see, talk, or control their hand or arm the way they once did. Although treatments…

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            Article • Second opinion from afar

            Telepathology: a prime application of digital pathology

            Telepathology remains number one application for digital pathology, according to expert Professor Liron Pantanowitz, Professor of Pathology and Director of Anatomical Pathology at the University of Michigan. Speaking at the ‘7th Digital Pathology and AI Congress: Europe’, Pantanowitz outlined advances in telepathology, and its enabling access to broader expertise, image sharing and rapid…

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            News • Aneurysm operations

            4D simulation increases safety in brain surgery

            Aneurysm operations in the brain rank among the most delicate procedures in neurosurgery. The highest demands are placed on surgeons when choosing the type of intervention, planning the route and carrying out extremely delicate procedures on the blood vessel. A new training technology co-developed between Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and ARTORG Center of the University of Bern, will…

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            Video • Coping with Covid-19

            How to work in the lab (while staying at home)

            Inspired by remotely controlled surgical robots, professor and Vici laureate Jaime Gómez Rivas turned the corona crisis into an opportunity. He started to transform his lab into a remotely controlled experimental facility. And with success: the first paper based on entirely remote measurements is about to be published. ‘As soon as the lockdown began in March, I sat down and had a chat with my…

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            Article • Robots, chatbots and more

            Conversational user interfaces: a new access to healthcare?

            The deployment of conversational user interfaces (CUI) or chatbots to healthcare has started gaining momentum. It is fueled by the rising power of artificial intelligence (AI), the increasing popularity of mobile health applications as well as the desire for engagement and usability. The past few years have seen a myriad of innovations in chatbots that can automate and engage in human-like…

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            Article • Senhance® Surgical Robotic System

            „Robotic systems are the future of medicine“

            In April 2017, St. Marien Hospital in Siegen, Germany, made robotic history: it was the first hospital in Germany to introduce the Transenterix surgical robotic system. Since then, more than 450 surgeries were performed with the Senhance® surgical robotic system and the expertise of Professor Dr Dietmar Stephan, Head of Minimally Invasive Surgery, is in high demand – worldwide.

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            Article • Assessing potential values

            5G: The impact of wireless technology in healthcare

            In a virtual roundtable 5G discussion five healthcare IT experts, three senior executives from major USA medical centres and two consultants, discussed questions posed by members of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

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            News • Congress

            Healthcare: Why Focus On Digitalization?

            Health industry digitalization is one of the highest priorities in the healthcare sector these times. In perspective, it improves current living standards with quicker and easier access to help. The Healthcare Automation and Digitalization Congress business program will cover digital trends in the healthcare industry. The Congress will take place in Zurich, Switzerland on the 22nd - 23rd of…

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            News • Success in Düsseldorf

            virtual.Medica receives international resonance

            For the first time in the history of MEDICA, the world-leading medical trade fair, and the industry’s number one platform for the suppliers of the medical technology industry, COMPAMED, held from 16 to 19 November 2020, took place entirely online due to the pandemic - but still won over their audiences due to their high degree of international resonance in this format too, as virtual.MEDICA and…

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            News • Interview

            Disinfection: a robot nips viruses in the bud

            Hospitals are considered a primary route of disease transmission. That is why patient rooms, ORs, and waiting areas should be disinfected regularly and thoroughly - read more in the MEDICA magazine about HERO21, a robot showcased at the trade fair.

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              News • Overview

              9 disinfection robots fighting the coronavirus

              As COVID-19 spreads across the world, hospitals are utilizing disinfection robots to sanitize surfaces and minimize risk for their staff. Read on our partner site tectales.com about how some of those robots kill 99.99 percent of germs.

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                News • The countdown is on

                virtual.MEDICA starts off with full programme and innovations

                For the first time in their history, the world-leading medical trade fair MEDICA and the international number one event for the medical manufacturing supply market, COMPAMED, will be held entirely online as virtual.MEDICA and virtual.COMPAMED from Monday, with around 1,400 exhibitors hailing from 56 countries. Throughout the four days of the trade fair (16 – 19 November 2020), international…

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                Article • Early imaging assessment of Covid-19

                Robot-assisted tele-ultrasound on 5G

                Ultrasound specialists at the Hainan Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital in Sanya and the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital of Hangzhou successfully conducted robotic tele-ultrasound examinations over a 5G network of four patients with confirmed and suspected Covid-19. They were in Tongxiang and Wuhan, cities some 2600+ kilometres distant.

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                News • spotlight at virtual.MEDICA

                Digital health is on the rise due to COVID-19

                MEDICA in Düsseldorf is a world-leading platform for the medical technology business and the healthcare industry and has always been one of the places to be for the entire sector as it covers current digital health trends, innovative products and services for linking all of the major stakeholders in medical care. Consequently, digital health is a mainstay of virtual.MEDICA, which, due to the…

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                Sponsored • Keeping up with Progress:

                Robotic Evolution Meets Innovative Life Cycle Management

                While the debate on the added value of robotics and robot-assisted systems has been in full swing for a while now, the demand for robotic surgery throughout Europe’s medical institutions continues to grow exponentially, particularly in specialties like visceral surgery and orthopaedics. But what exactly are the benefits and downsides involved with the use of surgical robots?

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                Article • One year as Senhance reference centre

                Robotic system supports surgeons and increases patient safety

                In August 2019, the Evangelische Krankenhaus Wesel (EVK) was the first hospital in the Lower Rhine region in Germany to invest in a robotic system for abdominal surgery. In the beginning, the Senhance® Surgical Robotic System, developed by TransEnterix, was used for minimally invasive interventions in general surgery but today its field of application has widened considerably. The EVK team is…

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                Video • Intelligent surgical unit

                Advancing robotic surgery with machine vision capabilities

                TransEnterix, Inc., a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to improve minimally invasive surgery, announced that Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center, a hospital in New Jersey, successfully completed its first surgical procedures using the Intelligent Surgical Unit (ISU).

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                News • Gels for drug delivery systems

                'Soft' 3D printing could jump-start creation of tiny medical devices

                Researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new method of 3D-printing gels and other soft materials. Published in a new paper, it has the potential to create complex structures with nanometer-scale precision. Because many gels are compatible with living cells, the new method could jump-start the production of soft tiny medical devices such as…

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                Article • Cutting-edge

                Taiwan companies present latest equipment advances

                The healthcare system of Taiwan, renowned for its ability to tackle challenges, has held up very well during the COVID-19 pandemic. To underline the nation’s role as a healthcare innovator, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) presented several of the most promising companies and their products in an exclusive webinar. The event showcased cutting-edge technologies as well as…

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                Video • Smart surface

                Artificial skin heals wounds and makes robots sweat

                Imagine a dressing that releases antibiotics on demand and absorbs excessive wound exudate at the same time. Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) hope to achieve just that, by developing a smart coating that actively releases and absorbs multiple fluids, triggered by a radio signal. This material is not only beneficial for the healthcare industry, it is also very promising in…

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                Article • Magnetic pull on catheters

                Fringe Field Navigation transforms endovascular surgery

                A new technique could enable vascular surgeons to reach even the more difficult body regions. Instead of pushing catheters into minute veins, the system, devised in Canada by Professor Sylvain Martel and team at the Polytechnique Montréal Nanorobotics Laboratory, uses magnetic forces to pull a guidewire, or catheter, into remote physical locations, guiding medical instruments into narrow and…

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                News • Organic lungs, synthetic muscles

                Biohybrid model re-creates respiration mechanics

                Benchtop tools for studying the respiratory system misrepresent the interdependence between the diaphragm, abdomen and lungs. Meanwhile, computational models often hide the mechanisms in a black box computation, without a clear picture of what transpires in the process. This means students form a poor understanding of respiratory mechanisms and makes it hard to train clinicians for real scenarios…

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                News • Robotic innovation

                Micro robot rolls deep into the body

                A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Stuttgart invented a tiny microrobot that resembles a white blood cell travelling through the circulatory system. It has the shape, the size and the moving capabilities of leukocytes and could perhaps be well on its way – in a rolling motion of course – to revolutionize the minimally invasive treatment of…

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                News • Biomimetic sight assistance

                "Artificial eye" prototype shows great promise

                Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are developing an artificial eye with capabilities close to its human model. The research team published their work on the biomimetic eye in the journal Nature. “Watching sci-fi series such as Star Trek and I, Robot, I thought about making a…

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                Article • Orthopaedics

                VR training to improve hip replacement surgery

                More than 200,000 patients undergo hip replacement surgery in Germany each year. To avoid complications and extend the lifespan of the artificial joint, the implants must be fitted precisely in the acetabulum (hip socket). The procedure, particularly milling the acetabulum, is not only difficult but also the technique is difficult to teach and train.

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                Article • More power for interventionists

                Combining image-guided diagnosis and robot-assisted treatment

                Siemens Healthineers AG took a big step last October. To incorporate treatment along an entire clinical path, the firm acquired Corindus Vascular Robotics, Inc., to combine image-guided diagnosis with robot-assisted surgery. A couple of months later, the Corindus endovascular robotic system CorPath GRX was used to implant a vascular stent into an obstructed coronary artery – the first use of…

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                News • Automated helper

                Robot uses AI and imaging to draw blood

                Engineers at Rutgers University have created a tabletop device that combines a robot, artificial intelligence and near-infrared and ultrasound imaging to draw blood or insert catheters to deliver fluids and drugs. Their most recent research results, published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence, suggest that autonomous systems like the image-guided robotic device could outperform people on…

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                Article • Lab technician shortage

                Addressing the critical lack of skilled lab workers

                The UK and Europe are facing a serious lab skills shortage over the next decade with medical laboratories among the worst affected. An ageing population and skilled operators retiring without being replaced by a new generation of lab technicians is at the core of a critical lack of skilled lab workers, with it taking 5-10 years for a technician to become fully competent and an expert in their…

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                News • Assistance in lymphedema treatment

                New microsurgery robot shows promise

                Supermicrosurgery – operations on vessels ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 millimeters – is limited by the dexterity of the surgeon’s hands. To bypass this limitation, robots can assist in the surgical process. One such robot is MUSA – the world’s first robotic platform for supermicrosurgery, which was co-developed by researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and the TU/e…

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                News • Research award shortlist

                Soft cardio-robot and 'Google Maps' of the heart face Big Beat Challenge

                The British Heart Foundation (BHF) announced its shortlist of four research projects competing for a single £30 million award. The charity says it is one of many radical new approaches needed to address a frightening mismatch in research funding compared with the burden of heart and circulatory diseases. With the World Health Organization forecasting an increase in cardiovascular deaths…

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                Video • Interventional cardiology

                First robotic coronary angioplasties in Germany

                Robocath, a company that designs, develops and commercializes cardiovascular robotic systems for the treatment of vascular diseases, announces it has successfully completed its first robotic coronary angioplasties with R-One in Germany. The Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) were performed by Pr Michael Haude, a recognized and highly experienced interventional cardiologist at Rheinland…

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                Article • Significant improvement in cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation

                Surgical robots must also be hygienic

                Modern healthcare without hand hygiene? Inconceivable – particularly in the operating room (OR). But what happens when it is not the surgeon who handles the scalpel, but a robot? Robotic surgery, just like surgery performed by humans, always carries a risk of microbial transmission to the patient, says Professor Johannes K-M Knobloch of University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). A specialist…

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                Sponsored • Reference center reports

                A new era in minimally invasive robotic surgery

                The Protestant Hospital Wesel (EVK Wesel) is one of two reference centres in Germany and one of 25 worldwide for the Senhance Surgical Robotic System from Transenterix. ‘We wanted to be the first in the Lower Rhine region to go to market with a robotic system as we believe that this type of digital surgical assistance represents the future,’ explains Rainer Rabsahl, CEO of the 356-bed…

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                Sponsored • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

                Robotic angioplasty: The future of endovascular interventions

                An exciting development from an innovative French company is poised for a major breakthrough in European markets. As is now well-known, coronary angioplasty is a procedure that widens and/or unblocks the arteries to the heart by the insertion and inflation of a balloon and/or stent into the vessel lumen. In modern practice, a stent is normally left in place to ensure the blood flow remains…

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