NWO has awarded a Demonstrator grant to Prof. Dr. Sarthak Misra of the University of Twente (TechMed Centre and MESA+) for the project: VIPER (Vascular Interventions Performed by Robots). This funding will allow Prof. Dr. Misra to further develop the results of research into a commercial product. In total, one million euros is involved for six Demonstrator proposals in the Netherlands.

The aim of VIPER is to enable use of magnetic surgical instruments by creating a clinic-ready robotic system capable of generating external fields.

Endovascular interventions use flexible instruments to provide treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Robotic steering of these instruments has emerged as a novel technique offering clinicians unparalleled dexterity. The VIPER-team will also consist of Dr. Christoff M. Heunis (senior post-doctoral fellow at University of Twente) and Prof. Dr. R.H. (Bob) Geelkerken (surgeon at Medisch Spectrum Twente and University of Twente).

VIPER
The resulting system will be able to accurately actuate magnetic surgical instruments, thereby truly revolutionizing minimally invasive surgery, and opening a new market for advanced diagnosis and treatment options. VIPER will provide an indispensable tool, satisfying the needs of clinicians for precise and comprehensive surgical interventions in hard-to-reach locations within the human body. VIPER aspires to turn magnetic actuation into a commercially successful technology. VIPER involves motivated clinicians, strong industrial collaborations, and a dedicated business development team in an ambitious quest to make that happen.

Demonstrator
Demonstrator is one of NWO’s valorization instruments. With it, researchers further develop their results to make them attractive to the market. Six projects were awarded funding in the 2022 round of Demonstrator. With funding from this program, researchers manufacture a product or service in the form of a demonstration model. The model serves as a showcase to enable a market introduction of that technology.