The MIRO Innovation Lab

To enhance technology transfer, DLR as a renowned research institution, invests in innovative technologies. One of the greatest strengths of the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics is the transfer of technologies originally developed for use in space to applications on Earth and ultimately to industry and end users.

Launched in 2017 at the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, the Competence Center for Medical Robotics is an interface between research, industry and clinical partners. Our goal is to bring innovative technologies from the medical robotics domain into application – fast and efficiently.

MIRO – Our Basic Technology

Since the 1990s we have been researching the technology of lightweight robotics – originally for space. The successful development led to the licensing of this technology to KUKA AG in 2004. The low weight of the robot arms and the high-performance control system allows for a safe human-robot interaction. This enables the robot to behave in a compliant and safe manner, which in turn is a prerequisite for medical applications. This is how the MIRO^® lightweight robotic arm, optimized for medical needs, was developed. MIRO is the core technology of our medical robotics research. Alongside the MiroSurge^® telesurgery system which consists of one, two or more MIRO robot arms, depending on the requirements. This development formed the basis of a current market success: Technological components of the MiroSurge system were licensed to Medtronic and can be found in the new Hugo^TM RAS system (robotic-assisted surgery) today.

Possible Areas of Application

MIRO's versatility and modularity is what makes it a unique system. Depending on your needs, you can equip a robot arm with special instruments or use several robot arms as a complete system.

Therefore, numerous medical application areas in diagnosis and intervention are possible: everywhere where the use of medical robotics and assistance systems can deliver real added value for the surgeon and thus the patient. The team is currently working in particular on new collaborative system concepts. On the one hand, these enable efficient transitions from conventional to robot-assisted surgery and, on the other hand, adequately support the surgeon in the accomplishment of tasks. Current application areas are:

• Laparoscopy with focus on visceral surgery
• Flexible endoscopy with focus on ureterorenoscopy
• Sonography with focus on neurosurgical oncology

Our Services

We offer our partners flexible and short-term support over large parts of the product development process, solutions with high technological maturity and seamless technology transfer:

• From the idea to the product: strategic development partnership
• Feasibility studies without risk, but with a lot of profit: research cooperation
• Publicly funded research: application and formation of consortia at EU, federal and state level
• Rapid assistance for urgent research and development needs: technology development, analysis and optimization
• Ready-to-use technologies: licensing and transfer of already tested and successfully implemented technologies
• Valuable contacts: complementary network of industry, research and clinical partners in Europe

We are happy to help!

Your Advantages

• Time and cost savings through early opportunity and requirement analyses
• Access to the most recent research results
• Hardware and software development from a single source
• Broad knowledge in the entire breadth and depth of robotics
• Experienced medical robotics research team
• Licensable off-the-shelf technologies

Contact us and arrange a non-binding consultation! Our experts are looking forward to your inquiry.