Participants:
Development of a novel variable stiffness endoscope that enables new types of minimally invasive head and neck surgeries with fewer complications, shorter procedures for doctors, faster recovery for patients, and lower costs for hospitals.
Research Partner :
The Laboratory of Intelligent Systems (LIS)
The Laboratory of Intelligent Systems (LIS) is a research group at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), led by Professor Dario Floreano. Internationally recognized for its pioneering work in bioinspired robotics and artificial intelligence, the lab has extensive experience in developing soft and adaptive robotic systems, including aerial drones, wearable technologies, and medical robots. In the field of medical robotics, LIS is among the most experienced groups worldwide in designing variable stiffness mechanisms for minimally invasive procedures. The lab has produced six high-impact publications and four patents in surgical robotics, with a particular focus on continuum devices for delicate clinical environments.
Implementation partner:
The Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) is internationally recognized as one of the leading academic medical centers in the world, consistently ranked among the top hospitals globally. Within its Department of Otorhinolaryngology, also called ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat), Dr. Antoine Reinhard and Dr. Nicolas Glasson lead pioneering efforts in flexible endoscopic techniques for sinus surgery. They were the first worldwide to clinically validate the use of flexible instruments for sinus treatment. Performing over 200 sinus surgeries each year, the CHUV ENT team is advancing minimally invasive approaches to reach complex anatomical areas while reducing surgical trauma, accelerating recovery, and improving patient outcomes.
