Medical robots are playing an increasingly important role in medical diagnostics. Semi-automated handling solutions enable precise sampling of suspicious areas in the prostate, delivering more accurate biopsy results and better detection of prostate cancer.

The new remote controlled manipulator (RCM) developed by Dutch company Soteria Medical BV makes doctors' work easier and reduces the intensity of the procedure for the patient. The metal-free RCM is used within the confined space of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.

An important component of the RCM is its sophisticated software system, which is used in conjunction with MRI images for extremely precise positioning of the needle guides. The current images of the target area are compared with previous diagnostic scans. The robot's polymer pneumatic motors then move the needle guide to the exact position. The system is controlled by a valve terminal type MPA from Festo. The doctor then uses the MR images to guide the biopsy needle safely and accurately to the prostate to take a tissue sample for further examination.

Partial automation by a robot makes the biopsy procedure much less stressful for the patient. Thanks to the high precision of the robot, which consists of state-of-the-art polymer stepper motors, one or two tissue samples are taken from a suspicious area. In randomised systematic biopsy, on the other hand, the urologist takes 12-16 samples under ultrasound guidance.

Please have a look at this video that shows you how the Soteria system works.