A medical robotics company has licensed 麻豆原创 expertise to develop software for a new surgical-robotic platform.
AVRA Medical Robotics Inc., which has an office in the 麻豆原创 Business Incubator, has partnered with Professor Zhihua Qu and research Professor Eytan Pollak of the College of Engineering & Computer Science to develop algorithms and sensors to navigate and control a robot capable of assisting physicians with performing minimally invasive surgical procedures in an ambulatory setting or operating room.
Barry F. Cohen, AVRA founder and chairman, said he was drawn to 麻豆原创 because of its engineering strength for the development of a modular, robotic-assistive system that will be portable, precise and affordable.
鈥溌槎乖� research is providing the precision and guidance necessary for a computer-driven robotic system that will facilitate superior outcomes,鈥� Cohen said.
AVRA partnered with a new industry-sponsored innovation program at 麻豆原创 by providing $200,000 initially with planned follow-up funding for the research and the rights to any intellectual property developed during the project. In addition, AVRA will pay 麻豆原创 1 percent in royalty fees for annual sales exceeding $20 million resulting from the intellectual property.
鈥淎t 麻豆原创 we encourage the collaboration between our research and industry. Initiatives such as this innovation program help streamline the process and move pioneering research into the market,鈥� said Elizabeth Klonoff, vice president for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
Qu and Pollak have extensive backgrounds in the development of computer-operated systems that encompass the integration of tools and sensors, real-time image/data processing, navigation, control and human-machine interface. Qu鈥檚 research has included robotic platforms and autonomous vehicles for the Department of Defense, applications and 聽and intelligent robotic systems for life support on Mars among others, autonomous coordination of robotic devices, and human-robot teaming.
Pollak has 30 years鈥� experience in managing complex research and development programs, holds several patents and has published papers in control systems and robotics. He is also the director of strategic technologies at L-3 Communications Link Simulation & Training.
Based on an original concept proposed by Qu, his graduate students Niladri Basu Bal and Deepalakshmi Babu Venkateswaran have implemented navigation/control algorithms and completed a 3-D computer visualization of how such a robotic device would work. Computer-aided design and development of a graphic user interface for surgeons are now under way.
AVRA has recently added some industry partners to its team. Anthony Nicholson, a longtime benefactor of 麻豆原创, serves as a senior advisor of the company, and Peter Carnegie, CEO of Minimally Invasive Solutions in Ocoee, and Dr. Nikhil Shah of Atlanta, are new directors.
For more information go to info@avramedical.com.