Interventional
Robotics
Laboratory
The Interventional Robotics Laboratory (IRL) at The University of Akron advances cutting-edge research at the intersection of robotics and healthcare innovation, with a clear mission to develop technologies that open the door to new surgical possibilities and make today’s procedures safer, more precise, and easier for clinicians to perform.
Current Projects
Our current research spans robotic orthopedic surgery, MRI-guided prostate biopsy and therapy, semi-robotic laparoscopic and arthroscopic systems, tactile feedback technologies for remote care, and soft robotic solutions for surgical and assistive applications.
Each project reflects our commitment to advancing minimally invasive procedures and developing the next generation of medical tools.
Explore positions or collaborations.
Research Interests
Image Guided Intervention
Utilizing advanced MRI-guided navigation combined with robotic guidance, this system ensures precise localization and targeting during interventional procedures. It facilitates accurate positioning of percutaneous instruments, optimizing diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes.
Target applications: MRI guided cancer biopsy and focal treatments
Soft Robotics for Healthcare
Flexible, wearable, detachable, implantable, and embedded soft robotic devices designed to support patient rehabilitation, enhance physical therapy outcomes, and augment human physical performance. These innovative robotic systems seamlessly integrate with human anatomy, providing gentle, adaptable assistance for patients undergoing rehabilitation, prosthetic users, and athletes aiming to enhance performance and recovery.
Target applications: assistive systems, wearable devices, performance enhancement
Robotic Orthopedic Surgery
Miniature bone-attached robot provides precise removal of damaged tissue for personalized implantation, and harvests in-tact autograft donor for transplantation.
Target applications: Personalized focal and total joint replacement surgery
Semi-Robotic Laparoscopy
and Arthroscopy
A compact, portable surgical assistance system designed to deliver essential robotic surgical benefits in resource-constrained or remote settings. This semi-robotic tool enhances surgical precision, stability, and control, making minimally invasive laparoscopic and arthroscopic procedures possible even in environments without comprehensive surgical infrastructure.
Target applications: Laparoscopic surgery, arthroscopy
Medical Expertise Pooling
Maximizes healthcare resources by aggregating specialized medical expertise through advanced telesensing and remote robotic manipulation. By remotely connecting healthcare providers, it facilitates the rapid transfer of specialized knowledge, improving the quality of care available in rural, underserved, or emergency contexts.
Target applications: military telemedicine, rural healthcare, emergency medicine, training
Tactile Display
A system that captures, encodes, and reproduces clinically meaningful touch such as stiffness, pressure, and tissue response, as a new medical data stream. By restoring tactile cues in digital, remote, and image-guided workflows, it enhances assessment accuracy, procedural safety, clinician confidence, and overall decision-making.
Target applications: Remote and in-person physical assessment, telemedicine, training, quantitative haptic data acquisition.
Current Projects
MRI-guided Targeted
Prostate Biopsy
Development of an MRI guided targeted biopsy system for prostate cancer diagnosis. We implement device-to-image registration free approach to minimize procedure time and technical complexity. Ultimate goal is to enable single visit definitive prostate cancer diagnosis.
Robotic Osteochondral
Autograft Transplantation
A robotic orthopedic surgery with a novel extraction mechanism that can precisely remove a damaged area from joints and transplant healthy cartilage-bone tissue from non-weight-bearing area.
Template Design Optimization
for Core Needle Biopsy
Various needle guide templates are used to guide core needle biopsies. Some result in better quality tissue samples than others. This study is to characterize and optimize guided biopsy gun operation.
Opportunities
Explore how students and collaborators can engage in innovative research,
academic programs, and summer initiatives at IRL.
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Parking & Arrival
We are located in the Auburn Science and Engineering Center (ASEC).
Park at Computer Center
Closest visitor parking. Buy your pass before you arrive.
Navigate to ASEC 108B
If you’re a prospective graduate student, please apply through the university’s admissions portal.
