In 2023, The Trustees Of The Stevens Institute Of Technology received $50,000 National Science Foundation I-Corps award entitled "A Minimally Invasive Palpation Device for Intraoperative Tumor Detection". The I-Corps project was led by Dr. Jinho Kim (Project Director/Principal Investigator; PD/PI) in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. The goal of the project was to investigate the product-market fit for the BullsEYE Robotic Finger medical device. This device is designed to assist the surgeons performing minimally invasive and robot-assisted cancer resection surgeries to accurately and rapidly detect tumors in the operating rooms. By systematically interviewing key stakeholders, including surgeons, hospital administrators, and industry experts, the team aimed to validate the market demand for more precise intraoperative tumor detection and refine its commercialization strategy.

Intellectual Merit

Throughout this project, the team conducted extensive "customer discovery" interviews with more than 100 stakeholders, primarily surgeons who specialize in minimally invasive and robot-assisted procedures. Their firsthand insight confirmed the unmet need for innovative technologies to identify tumors in the operating rooms. Surgeons described frequent difficulties with locating small tumors or defining tumor boundaries during the surgery, a limitation exacerbated by robotic systems that lack the sensitivity of human touch. Additionally, many surgeons cited the mismatch between pre-operative imaging (such as MRI or CT scans) and the actual state of the organ during surgery, making it even harder to pinpoint tumor locations. By applying the principles of device engineering, robotics, and medical imaging, we refined our business model and identified strategies for effective integrating the BullsEYE Robotic Finger into existing hospital procedures. These research activities allowed us to validate our technology's market potential, paving the way for further research, clinical, and commercial development.

Broader Impacts

The broader impacts of our work include patient care, healthcare economics, and educational advancement. Once commercialized, the BullsEYE Robotic Finger has the potential to improve surgical precision and reduce the frequency of follow-up operations, leading not only to improved patient outcomes but also lower healthcare costs by minimizing hospital stays and repeat surgeries. During interviews, surgeons expressed enthusiasm for a product that could both speed up the surgical process and help preserve healthy tissues, resulting in quicker recoveries and less emotional distress for patients and their families.

This project has also fostered collaborations between engineers, surgeons, hospital administrators, and regulatory experts at institutions across the country. Several surgeons have offered to test our device prototype in operating rooms for future clinical trials, a key step toward obtaining regulatory approval. On the educational side, our team benefited from professional development through investor pitch events, national and regional I-Corps programs, and workshops. These experiences sharpened our entrepreneurial skills and allowed us to mentor other academic researchers interested in bringing their innovations to the marketplace.

In summary, our work on the BullsEYE Robotic Finger has demonstrated both scientific viability and clinical promise. By combining robust technical research with real-world feedback from practicing surgeons, the team aims to develop a technology that can significantly enhance the safety, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted surgery. As we move forward with plans for clinical studies and regulatory submissions, the team remain committed to inspiring the next generation of innovators in the field of biomedical engineering.

Last Modified: 02/19/2025
Modified by: Jinho Kim