4 -Year PhD Studentship Soft Robotics for Medical Imaging and Robotic Surgery

Now Closed

The UCL Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering is inviting applications for a studentship in the area of soft robotics for medical imaging and surgical robotics.  The studentship is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) doctoral training partnership programme.

This is a collaborative project between the Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering department at UCL, the Wellcome/EPSRC centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences (WEISS) at UCL, and clinical collaborators at, among others, the Royal Free Hospital and the UCLH. Each organisation hosts a range of internationally leading research groups covering a broad range of activities, which provides a highly stimulating and multidisciplinary environment for learning and scientific research.

The host department at UCL holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award, which recognises and celebrates good practice and commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) in higher education and research.  The award reflects UCL’s commitment to the advancement and promotion of diversity and equality.

Studentship Description
Robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is a surgical operation in which part of a kidney is removed, typically due to the presence of a mass. Pre-operative and intraoperative imaging techniques are used to identify and outline the target mass, and thus the margins of the resection area on the kidney surface. Drop-in ultrasound probes are used to acquire intraoperative images: the probe is inserted through a trocar port, grasped with a robotic-assisted laparoscopic gripper and swiped on the kidney surface.  Multiple swipes are performed to define the resection area. This is marked swipe by swipe using an electrocautery tool. During this procedure the probe often requires repositioning because of slippage from the target organ surface. Furthermore, the localization can be inaccurate when the target mass is in particularly hard to reach locations, and thus kidney repositioning could be required. A highly skilled surgeon is typically required to successfully perform this pre-operatory procedure.

In the Surgical Robot Vision (SRV) Group a novel soft robotic solution has been developed for the navigation of drop-in ultrasound probes in RAPN: the use of pneumatically attachable flexible rails (PAF rails) to enable swift, effortless, and accurate track-guided scanning of the kidney. The proposed system attaches on the kidney side surface with the use of a series of bio-inspired vacuum suckers. The same system can be customised to be used in other similar procedures e.g. partial hepatectomy. The PAF rail system has also been investigated as a soft robotic organ retractor and with the support of clinicians from Royal Free Hospital we are now moving towards pre-clinical trials.

The aim of this PhD studentship is to develop novel soft robotic solutions to support medical imaging and surgical robotics, building on the expertise developed within the SRV group. The candidate will design, prototype and test soft robotic systems and sensors, including but not limited to the PAF rails system and derivative systems of it, paving the way for their translation into clinics. The candidate will also investigate soft sensing solution to support multi-imaging modalities. In collaboration with other researchers within the WEISS centre and the wider UCL network of partner hospitals, the candidate will investigate how to integrate the proposed system in clinical practice, liaising with clinicians and engineers as well as with industrial partners to conduct testing on phantoms as well as ex vivo and in vivo testing.

 The student will join the Surgical Robot Vision Group led by Professor Danail Stoyanov and will be supervised by Dr Agostino Stilli – Assistant Professor and PAF Rails project lead in the Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering.

Person Specification
Applicants must have, or expect to obtain, a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent international qualifications or experience) in an appropriate technical subject. The studentship would suit applicants with a background in mechatronics, biomedical or robotic engineering. However, applicants with degrees in physics or mathematics who are interested in developing cross-disciplinary skills are also encouraged to apply.

Applicants must have a clear interest in robotics for healthcare, medical imaging and clinical translation of medical robotic devices.

Essential Skills
Well-developed experimental skills and familiarity with working safely and cleanly in a laboratory; a sufficient level of mathematical and numerical skills; experience in computer programming for signal analysis and data processing (e.g. in MATLAB or similar); capable of creative and critical thinking; in possession of excellent writing and oral communication skills; capable of self-management and good working habits; used to taking initiative; capable of working both independently and collaboratively. Experience with hardware-software engineering and integration.

Desirable Skills
Experience with embedded systems (microcontrollers/microprocessors programming); experience with rapid prototyping techniques such as 3D printing, milling, laser cutting and silicone moulding; a working knowledge of ROS and Phyton. A working knowledge of medical imaging. A working knowledge of CAD (Solidworks Toolkit preferable).

Eligibility
Funding will be for 4 years, with a tax-free stipend of approximately £17,280, per year plus. UK/EU-level university fees and additional funding to cover equipment, travel and training.  Applications are open to UK and EU students only subject to the UKRI Eligibility Criteria (see https://epsrc.ukri.org/skills/students/guidance-on-epsrc-studentships/eligibility/ for further information).

If you have any project-specific queries, please contact Dr. Agostino Stilli (a.stilli@ucl.ac.uk).  Applications (including a covering letter, CV and names of two referees) should be sent to Miss Mohini Nair (m.nair@ucl.ac.uk). Any informal enquiries about the position should be directed to Dr Agostino Stilli (a.stilli@ucl.ac.uk).

The closing date for applications is 31^st of May 2020, and the student must be available to start on 28 September 2020.  Interviews will be conducted in June 2020.