Bulletin No. 2, 2023

TheMRC is a thriving med-tech innovation ecosystemwhereworld- leading clinicians, engineers and industry collaboratorswork together to drive the development of medical robotics that could benefit patientswith deeper reach, greater precision and lower costs. Professor Philip Chiu Co-Director, Multi-ScaleMedical Robotics Centre “ ” surgical robots to benefit patients locally, in the Greater Bay Area and even across mainland China,” recalls Professor Au. In the pipeline “Currently, the Sentire system is going to be used in clinical trials in Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang,” remarks Professor Au. In the long run, the MRC plans to simplify surgery and enable surgeons to perform more complex procedures by offering the surgical robotic platform at a lower cost and in a smaller size. Besides endoscopic surgical robots, the MRC’s research teams are also spearheading a magnetic- guided endoluminal robotic platform and image- guided robotic interventions. The magnetic-guided endoluminal robotic platform, which enables the use of miniature tools and micro-/ nanorobotics in the human body, is a promising solution to ensuring active remote control with high precision. The MRC aims to further establish Hong Kong as a centre of innovation in gut and vascular disease research, and use these revolutionary technologies to fight diseases that are among the most important challenges in minimally invasive medicine. Image guidance complements surgical robotics, with detailed real-time imaging information serving as visual feedback for the surgeon, and also as direct observation for the robotic control system. With multi-modal visual assessment and precise surgical tool manipulation, the technology can achieve its ultimate aim of improved procedural workflow, surgeon ergonomics and patient outcomes. Professor Au concludes: “The MRC is an important milestone in the development of surgical robotics in Hong Kong. I look forward to seeing more high- quality research and development outcomes through the center, and their translation so they impact patient lives and the community.” How AI and robotics reshape the world 11 When medicine meets engineering