Recent Advances in Autonomous Surgery: emerging AI technologies towards machine consciousness and robotic awareness in the surgical field
Different technologies based on Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Smart Sensors for computer-assisted surgery have been developed in the last decades to gather information from the surgical field to handle adverse events, enhance the surgeons’ capabilities, and support surgeons with different degrees of experience.
In addition, the use of robotic systems in surgical domains became groundbreaking for both patients and surgeons. However, autonomous surgery is hampered by many open issues related to design, visualization and modelling, vision and learning, system integration, and robust control.
Which are the key enabling technologies that will allow the development of autonomous surgery systems? Can AI and machine awareness be a solution towards safer robotic surgery, bringing surgical technologies to the next generation level? What does it mean for a system to be aware of the environment, time, or itself, and how can AI and Machine Learning provide awareness in this context?
These questions will be addressed by international experts on Artificial Intelligence, Surgical Technologies and Cognitive Sciences research areas providing different perspectives. This will include recent results and future research directions in the areas of vision and machine learning and provide insights regarding principles of cognitive awareness with potential to increase the autonomy of surgical robotic systems.
The workshop will end with a discussion session summarising the lessons learned and identifying the key elements required for the development of successful AI robotic-assisted surgery, offering guidance for future advancements.
Date: Sunday 26th June 2022
Time: 09:00 – 16:00
Call for posters
We invite student participants to present their late-breaking research results in the form of a one-page abstract.
- Contribution must be submitted to these emails: veronica.penza@iit.it and anh.nguyen@liverpool.ac.uk by 12th of June as one-page abstract (please download the template from here);
- All submissions will be judged based on relevance to the workshop topic, technical quality, and novelty. The accepted abstracts must present a poster eligible for the best paper award;
- A printed copy of the poster will be displayed in the workshop area. At least one author must be present during the poster session to present their work;
- The best poster will be awarded with a prize (£200).
Programme
| Time | Title |
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Coffee |
| 09:00 – 09:05 | Opening: Welcome & Introduction |
| Session 1: Machine consciousness and robotic awareness in the surgical field | |
| 09:05 – 09:50 | Prof. Agnieszka Wykowska, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia: The approach of cognitive science in HRI: the basis for effective shared awareness |
| 09:50 – 10:20 | Prof. Paolo Fiorini, University of Verona: Autonomous surgery and surgical awareness: bridging the gaps of surgical knowledge |
| 10:20 – 10:40 | Coffee Break |
| 10:40 – 11:10 | Prof. Duygu Sarikaya, Gazi University: Complementing Surgeons with Situation Awareness using Computer Vision |
| 11:10 – 11:40 | Dr. Sophia Bano, University College London: Artificial Intelligence-assisted Surgery for Next Generation Intervention |
| 11.40 – 12:00 | Poster Session |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break |
| Session 2: Emerging AI technologies for autonomous surgery | |
| 13:00 – 13:40 | Prof. Pietro Valdastri, University of Leeds: Exploring Autonomy in Robotic Colonoscopy |
| 13:40 – 14:10 | Dr. Hadi El Daou, Imperial College London: AI in Robotic-Assisted Surgery and Related Fields: Our Experience in The Mechatronics in Medicine Laboratory |
| 14:10 – 14:30 | Coffee Break |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Prof. Thiusius R. Savarimuthu, University of Southern Denmark: Automatic segmentation of surgical instrument using AI |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | Dr. Leonardo De Mattos, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia: Applications of sensors, AI and Deep Learning for enhanced awareness during medical procedures |
| 15:30 – 15:55 | Poster Session & Final Discussion |
| 15:55 – 16:00 | Closing Remarks |
Learning Outcomes
Active interaction and knowledge exchange between established experts and early-career researchers are of paramount importance for young scientists. This workshop will create a forum where early-stage researchers will receive expert feedback and be inspired by innovative and cutting-edge ideas.
Learning outcomes will be:
- Knowledge about AI tools and smart sensors that can be employed in the operating theatre of the future;
- Understanding the basic principles of cognitive and machine awareness and acquiring insights about how to embed them into a surgical system and how to share them with surgeons;
- Explore the opportunities and limitations of enhancing ΑΙ awareness agents in a robotic surgery context.
Encouraging active discussions during our workshop will be achieved by establishing a multifaceted mechanism:
- Invited presentations by experts in the field. These talks will give a foundation for the presentation of submitted contributions in the form of interaction sessions combined with posters/demos.
- Live poster sessions will give young researchers the opportunity to engage with the experts and consult on their work.
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This workshop is worth 6 CPD points, please register to qualify for certification.
