The Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) has begun developing a prototype robotic system with initial autonomous capabilities aimed at minimally invasive surgery. The project marks an important step forward in applying advanced control and automation technologies to healthcare, with the goal of improving patient safety and supporting healthcare professionals.
This development is part of an innovation contract between Sanzar, a company specialized in software and autonomous control systems, and IDIVAL, and is backed by the European Space Agency (ESA) through the ESA Spark program, designed to transfer technologies developed in the aerospace sector into other strategic areas such as biomedicine.
The first test was carried out on September 4 at the Valdecilla Virtual Hospital (HvV), in an advanced simulation environment that allowed for the evaluation of the system’s initial performance under controlled conditions. This test represents the starting point of a progressive validation phase that will continue over the coming months.
“The project, which has just started its first phase and will continue with new stages of development, is framed within a joint collaboration between IDIVAL and the Valdecilla Virtual Hospital (HvV). The highly specialized facilities and services of the HvV provide an ideal environment for complex and innovative trials, thanks to specialized innovation project management and advanced technical support,” the project leaders highlight.
This research aims to lay the foundations for a robotic system capable of performing, with varying degrees of autonomy, critical surgical tasks in laparoscopic procedures. The expected advances seek to:
The initiative is the result of cooperation between several key players:
The development of this prototype not only strengthens Cantabria’s position as a hub of biomedical innovation but also aspires to generate a significant impact on the future of surgery.
The automation of laparoscopic surgery using an autonomous robotic system reduces surgeon workload and minimizes the risk of human error, thereby increasing patient safety. Shorter, more precise operations reduce exposure to anesthesia and sedation, limit tissue trauma and postoperative pain, and therefore lower complications and recovery times, creating a direct benefit for patients.
Moreover, the system’s precision and consistency can decrease surgical error rates and preventable adverse events, contributing significantly to improving safety.
