Robotics for Healthcare is an interdisciplinary research program exploring potential uses and go-to-market strategies for robotic technologies for diagnostics, surgery, dentistry and other domains of healthcare. It is a collaboration between the Mack Institute, Penn Robotics’ GRASP Lab and the Center for Innovation in Precision Dentistry.
Combining expertise from clinical researchers, engineers, and business students, the project aims to create an interdisciplinary model of collaboration that accelerates the commercialization and market entry of transformative health technologies.
Oral Care with Nanorobots
Our current project focuses on a groundbreaking device designed to treat, prevent, and detect harmful oral bacteria using iron oxide nanoparticles controlled by a magnetic field. This innovative technology offers a complete dental cleaning, eliminating the need for brushing, flossing, and mouthwash in a single, automated step that requires no manual effort from the user.
Researchers believe that this technology could be particularly impactful in clinical settings like hospitals and care homes, where research increasingly shows that oral hygiene is associated with overall health and general wellbeing, as well as reduced patient complications like pneumonia.
Personnel
Academic Leaders
Michel Koo, Penn Dental
Yann Lamarche, EMOVI
Edward Steagar, SEAS
Valery Yakubovich, The Mack Institute
Students
Chrissie Jaruchotiratanasakul, Penn Dental
Hong-Huy Tran, SEAS
Manali Mahajan, Wharton
Edward Zhang, University of Pennsylvania