Cancer diagnosis and treatment made easier with robotic platform developed by Romania and Norway

IDEAR combines artificial intelligence, robotics, electromagnetic and optical navigation

Cancer is a terrifying diagnosis with many unknowns. That is why it is probably the most researched topic in the medical field, with numerous specialists looking for new ways to diagnose and treat it.

With this objective, the IDEAR initiative - Improving Cancer Diagnostics in Flexible Endoscopy Using Artificial Intelligence and Medical Robotics led by the University of Craiova - has started.

IDEAR is a robotic medical platform realized by a combination of state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, electromagnetic and optical navigation.

The IDEAR project was developed by a consortium of six partners (three from Romania and three from Norway) who pooled their expertise and experience with the aim of improving cancer diagnosis through flexible endoscopy procedures.

The IDEAR project was coordinated by the University of Craiova which, together with the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Delta Health Care SRL (Ponderas University Hospital) from Romania and SINTEF Institute, St. Olavs Hospital and CEETRON AS from Norway, developed a prototype of an advanced medical system, including a software and a robotic platform.

"The IDEAR project has naturally taken over and continued the development of the first algorithms and special tools for bronchoscopy procedures developed in a previous project also carried out together with the Norwegian partners.
IDEAR took these first ideas close to an exceptional product by developing a medical robot, developing the software to control it and guide it through the airways or bile ducts", explained Prof. Dr. Ing. Prof. Dr. Lucian Gruionu, University of Craiova, Head of the Microtechnologies and Medical Engineering Laboratory at INCESA.

Built IDEAR system improves cancer diagnosis in endoscopy procedures by introducing new hybrid imaging, electromagnetic navigation and medical robotics technologies

The initiative has set its sights on a medical robotic system that will make a major impact in the fight of patients diagnosed with cancer. With a multidisciplinary team of researchers, a symbiosis between artificial intelligence and medical robotics has been achieved, aimed at increasing the success rate of endoscopy procedures, reducing patients` exposure to radiation, reducing the cost of procedures for early detection and treatment of cancer and, last but not least, developing new technologies with application in the medical field.

Diagnosis and treatment during the same procedure

Multifunctional, the platform allows simultaneous visualization of the anatomical target(s), neighboring anatomy and CT/ MRI image, finds the optimal path to the target and guides the bronchoscope/endoscope and biopsy instrument simultaneously and precisely.
But the most innovative feature of the IDEAR system is the possibility to perform both diagnosis and treatment during the same procedure, utilizing an advanced intelligent robotic system and innovative instruments with dual electromagnetic and optical position detection.

"IDEAR also uses cutting-edge technologies: electromagnetic navigation and shape sensors using Bragg-effect fiber optics, which combined with artificial intelligence allow precise, real-time localization of anatomical targets", revealed Professor Lucian Gruionu.

  IDEAR R&D research and development teams during system testing.

Advanced Artificial Intelligence systems such as machine learning algorithms and image recognition technologies can detect and analyze early signs of cancer in endoscopic images with remarkable accuracy and efficiency.

The accuracy of endoscopic procedures has greatly increased

The IDEAR prototype has been tested under laboratory conditions on artificial models that faithfully reproduce the human anatomy and will be tested on patients once the necessary approvals have been obtained. Medically, the accuracy of endoscopic procedures has significantly increased as a result of the non-invasive technology proposed by IDEAR.

"The IDEAR project results have been published in 18 international journal articles, have been presented at more than 18 international conferences, and are protected under two patent applications. IDEAR has also created the context for the creation of two startups that will license and further develop the technologies and prototypes from the project with the aim of transforming them into products", emphasized the project director, Professor Lucian Gruionu, from the University of Craiova.

The initiative has put particular emphasis on the training and professional education of medical staff in the use of new technologies, thus ensuring their proper implementation and optimal use in clinical practice.

The robotic system is designed to assist physicians during procedures that include the use of flexible instruments such as endoscope, catheters or biopsy forceps/forceps

The project consortium has produced advanced electromagnetic and optical guidance software for robotic system control with automatic, real-time registration for endoscopy/bronchoscopy or surgical procedures, integrating a novel method of catheter shape detection using fiber optic Bragg technology.

Suspicious peripheral nodes automatically detected

At the same time, the uniqueness of the IDEAR prototype is given by the development and integration of a new machine learning (ML) algorithm and an augmented reality module for automatic detection and presentation during the procedure of tissue types needed by the physician for guidance: virtual images of suspicious peripheral nodes in the lung, pancreas and liver, blood vessels, airways, bile ducts or pancreatic ducts obtained from the patient`s pre-operative imaging data (CT, MRI) are superimposed in real time over the ultrasonographic or endoscopic image.

"The IDEAR system has a particular complexity, it includes various technologies, existing or developed for the first time: robotics, electromagnetic guidance, multiple artificial intelligence algorithms, augmented reality and more. This multitude of technologies realized and used in the project generates ideas for new medical products, from instruments to complete systems, for other medical procedures not addressed by the project, which can be developed by interested R&D startups", said Professor Lucian Gruionu, from the University of Craiova.

Norwegian grants financially supported the project

The Norwegian grants, offered within the RO-Cercetare Program, were fundamental for the realization of this revolutionary project, together with the contribution of the state, the total investment amount being over 5.9 million lei.

In addition, the Grants have facilitated the collaboration between research institutions, two hospitals in Romania and Norway, two universities in Romania, the most prestigious Research Institute and a company specialized in medical imaging in Norway, providing the necessary financial resources for the development and implementation of the project. 

The EEA and Norway Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary countries in Eastern and Southern Europe and the Baltic States. These funding mechanisms are established on the basis of the European Economic Area Agreement, which brings together the EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. In total, the three countries contributed 3.3 billion euro between 1994 and 2014 and 2.8 billion euro for the 2014-2021 funding period.

More details on these funds and the projects supported here: www.eeagrants.ro and www.eeagrants.org