Intelligent robotics for
minimally invasive medicine
We develop intelligent robotic technologies that make minimally invasive procedures safer, more accessible and more effective — leveraging magnetic manipulation to reach deep within the body, diagnose disease earlier and expand access to care worldwide.
We leverage magnetic manipulation to enable tiny medical instruments to reach deep within the human body — diagnosing and treating disease while minimising risk to the patient.
Three capabilities, one principle
Everything we build combines manipulation, sensing and soft mechanics to reach the body safely and affordably.
Magnetic Manipulation
Magnetic fields offer the possibility of manipulating objects from afar and are safe for medical applications, as they penetrate human tissue without harm to the patient. We leverage magnetic manipulation to enable tiny instruments to reach deep within the body — diagnosing and treating disease while minimising the invasiveness of the procedure.
Magnetic Localisation
Knowledge of the position and orientation of instruments manipulated inside the body is crucial for intelligent control and reliable operation. We develop real-time localisation techniques for magnetic payloads that are compatible with magnetic manipulation and can be adopted in clinical practice.
Soft Medical Robots
Soft robots are inherently safe when interacting with people and can be fabricated at low cost. We explore pneumatic, hydraulic and magnetic soft robots for minimally invasive access — with a focus on affordable designs that enable cancer screening in low-resource settings, performed without specialist medical training.
Pioneering magnetic robotics and surgical autonomy across the body
01
Magnetic flexible endoscopy
We are disrupting colonoscopy with a new design of robotic endoscope — magnetically guided from outside the body to enable painless, safer and more affordable investigation of the large intestine.
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02
Magnetic Tentacles
Sub-millimetre soft continuum robots steered by external magnetic fields, reaching deep and tortuous anatomy such as the lungs for earlier diagnosis and targeted treatment.
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03
Magnetic Vine Robots
Growing, vine-inspired robots that navigate confined pathways by extending from their tip, combining magnetic steering with controlled growth for minimally invasive access.
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04
MRI actuated instruments
Instruments powered and guided directly by the magnetic field of an MRI scanner, so imaging and intervention can happen in the same place, at the same time.
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05
Magnetically Guided Ultrasound
Developed with the University of Glasgow — a capsule capable of performing diagnostic micro-ultrasound within the gastrointestinal tract under intelligent magnetic control.
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06
Autonomy in Surgical Robotics
Intelligent control and machine learning that bring autonomy to surgical robots, reducing operator burden and making complex procedures more reliable and accessible.
View project →“We strive to improve the quality of life for people undergoing flexible endoscopy and laparoscopic surgery by creating affordable and intelligent robotic solutions.”
Supported by world-leading partners
Research funding and strategic collaborations are crucial to progressing our pioneering research. We gratefully acknowledge and thank each funding body and industrial partner that has contributed to the successes of the STORM Lab.
