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A European research collaboration called PALPABLE, funded by the EU Horizon Programme, is developing a soft robotic fingertip probe to restore tactile feedback in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. The device uses fibre-optic cables embedded in a flexible silicone tip: when pressed against tissue, the tip deforms and changes in light intensity/wavelength are translated into tissue stiffness data, displayed as a colour-coded map for surgeons. Partners include Queen Mary University of London, Fraunhofer Institute, and several Greek institutions. A first prototype is expected to be tested by surgeons around March 2026. The goal is to help surgeons better define tumour margins during cancer operations, where the loss of direct touch has been a significant trade-off of modern robotic surgery.

Restoring surgeons’ sense of touch with robotic fingertips