In Intelligent Robotic Endoscopes (IRE) for Improved Healthcare Services we envision creating intelligent robotics solutions, extending current endoscope technology with robotics control that is based on learning from currently collected human operator data, coupled with novel bio-mechanical modeling techniques, and sensory feedback as well as soft robotics phantom for training. The challenge with colonoscopy is that the success rate of detecting cancer depends on the skills of the clinician that operates the endoscope. From a health and societal perspective, the number of colonoscopies is bound to increase as they are the only way to screen patients for early cancer detection. Many European countries have national screening programs. This is a very big market in need of improved technology. IRE enables a new generation of intelligent robots that through data, simulation and learning can interact with the interior of a living human while communicating with a human operator. The huge variation of human anatomy and the dynamic effect of human physiology make it a complicated navigational task to use endoscopes. Entanglement, haemorrhage, and perforation risks create a critical and difficult environment to navigate autonomously in where even trained human operators meet challenges. We exploit one of the largest datasets on real-life colonoscopies with more than 2,000 operations to learn safe navigation, combined with simulated training on a population of biomechanical models of the abdominal region. IRE boosts the design and configuration of the robotic endoscope using digital twins and simulation, and careful inclusion of clinicians will speed up the process of integration. IRE will raise the level of autonomy by building upon simulation, imaging, and learning to yield an increased interpretation and understanding of the complex real- world environments, capable of anticipating the effect of human motions, adapting and replanning to avoid entanglement.

Today there is no regenerative therapy available for treatment of complete spinal cord injuries (SCI). BioArctic Neuroscience develops a novel treatment of complete SCI. The method is based on the regeneration of functional nerves in the injured spinal cord. Nerve grafts are transplanted into the injured spinal cord, by using a biodegradable device, loaded with a growth factor and nerve grafts (these three components are abbreviated SC0806). Efficacy and safety of the treatment has been demonstrated in an in vivo model of SCI. The therapy has been designated Orphan Drug status in Europe and in USA. Ethical approval to commence into clinical trial in Sweden was recently granted. The proposed project is the first clinical trial of the treatment of complete spinal cord injury. Following surgery at the Karolinska University Hospital, patients will receive rehabilitation in their home countries, with state of the art robotics equipment, at clinics in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. This clinical study will be the first in-human trial with this new treatment concept. Several interim analyses are included in the study design to secure the safety of the patients. This is a single dose study in up to 3 sequences (A, B and C) in 27 subjects with complete traumatic SCI. In the first sequence (A), 6 subjects will be randomized to a surgical procedure where SC0806 will be implanted at the spinal cord, and receive robotics assisted walking training for 18 months, and 3 subjects will be randomized to specific walking training only. For safety reasons, the first three subjects will be operated on and implanted with at least 1 month in between. If efficacy is demonstrated, control subjects from (A) and (B) and (C) will later be given the opportunity to receive treatment with SC0806.The proposed project spans a period of 42 months and will start nov 2014 with screening, inclusion and treatment of patients in Sweden.