Created by Prof. Philippe Cinquin three decades ago, CAMI team has been pioneering the development of medical devices assisting medical interventions since then.
In France, the team’s name (CAMI) is a standalone research area. The first French surgical robot, developed by the team for stereotaxis neurosurgery, has been used for the first time in 1989 on a patient. The mentioned robot was also one of the first surgical robots worldwide. Since then, the team has always been innovating in scientific research as well as in clinical investigations. The constant need in quality of medical interventions and the ever-growing trend in minimally invasive surgery on ever-smaller targets, using early diagnosis are endlessly stimulating the team’s challenges.
Inspired by the clinical needs and immersed in the university hospital environment, we conduct research in medical image processing, data fusion, biomechanical modeling and simulation, as well as medical robotics. Based on the experience of three decades, our team develops translational research in close partnership with clinicians and specialists in clinical evaluation methods.
In order to benefit to patients and to the healthcare system in general, multiple results are transferred to industrial partners for use in routine medical applications. Further, several spin-offs have been created by our team.
Spreading our research on a large scale allows evaluation with respect to the reality of clinical practices. In a virtuous manner, this approach feeds back our team with growing challenges to perform cutting-edge research.
CAMI team has a clinical objective to develop assistive systems to medical interventions in a context of minimizing their invasiveness and of rationalization and traceability of healthcare.
The scientific goals ensuing from this objective include design, development, and evaluation of:
(1) Reconstruction methods, image processing and data fusion;
(2) Models of human organs and clinical procedures;
(3) Simulators dedicated to learning and monitor the interventions, as well as anticipating their anatomical, functional, and esthetic consequences;
(4) And finally steering systems whether robotized or not.
Our research is therefore based on three main topics: perception, reasoning, and action.
The following research areas do not reflect the exhaustiveness of our contributions yet represent recent or on-going projects.
In terms of perception:
Part of our research is dedicated to developing specific per-operative sensors (for instance biomechanical parameter acquisition, distributed endoscopy, optical imaging in the visible or close infrared) and several methods to use such sensors and models from the acquired data (for instance tomographic 3D reconstruction, endoscopic instrument tracking, etc.)
In terms of reasoning:
A priori information issued from different models (atlas, statistical models, etc.) is a basis to developing segmentation and elastic registration methods of multimodal data; real-time registration based on per-operative data allows to track mobile and soft structures in order to update the operative panning.
Further, biomechanical modeling approaches of human organs are developed to assist the general area of intervention simulation and planning.
Lastly, we introduce original approaches to assist surgeons’ decision, in real time, based on multimodal data with an increasing focus on recent optical modalities (including immunofluorescence).
In terms of action:
We focus part of our research on human-machine interfaces dedicated to CAMI by developing innovative interaction modalities. Further, our research on medical/surgical robotics has been emphasized with the development of lightweight and compliant robotic structures, including on-patient approaches.
Clinical transfer
Our research is highly assisted by strong experimental procedures leading to clinical validation.
CAMI team created and promoted the open-source platform CamiTK (Computer Assisted Medical Intervention Tool Kit) for prototyping CAMI applications, accumulating technologies and know-how in medical imaging, image processing, biomechanical modeling, and robotics.
In order to speed up the process of transferring a clinically inspired concept to an operational system with medical benefits, CAMI team founded the ECCAMI Excellence Center, a platform gathering both expertise and equipment serving academia, clinics, and industry.
Funded research programs
CAMI team has a leading position on "Investissements d'Avenir" projects with the coordination
(1) of CAMI Labex, gathering together the major 6 French laboratories specialized in CAMI
(2) of the sub-network "Medical Robotics" of the French Equipex Robotex network.
The team has also recorded a high acceptance rate on major project funding (for instance, participating in 14 ANR funded projects that include 7 CAMI-coordinated projects, during the last quinquennial.
Our research funds and programs:
Projet DEPORRA-2
Convention LABEX CAMI
Convention ROBOTEX
Projet PI-R2
Prévention Ulcères Pied
Projet FOCUS
Projet TAENIA
ECCAMI Plateformes 2016
Projet 3D4CARM
Projet FOTONG
Projet PICS Prévention Ulcères
Projet VATSnext
Projet biomécanique et tissus mous
Projet ANATOMY 2020
FASSIL
Projet Imagerie et génération de modèles biomécaniques
Projet MIRAS
Projet DEPORRA 2
FUI MIRAS 2014
LABEX
ROBOTEX
PIR
Projet CQFD
Projet Biopsies optiques pour PRR
Projet NOCT
Convention CHU Nantes
Projet DROITE
The team includes about twenty researchers, teaching researchers, asociated clinicians or staff members. Between 15 and 20 doctoral theses are conducted within the team. Post-doctoral fellows and Master research assistants are regularly hosted.
Team coordinator(s)
- Sandrine VOROS (Chercheur)
Permanent members
- Pierre-Alain BARRAUD (IT-BIATSS)
- Clément BEITONE (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Manik BHATTACHARJEE (IT-BIATSS)
- Mehdi BOUDISSA (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Ivan BRICAULT (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Matthieu CHABANAS (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Mohamed Taha CHIKHAOUI (Chercheur)
- Laurent DESBAT (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Jean-Luc DESCOTES (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- David DESSEAUVE (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Jean-Luc FAUCHERON (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Gaëlle FIARD (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Céline FOUARD (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Max LANGER (Chercheur)
- Alexandre MOREAU GAUDRY (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Emmanuel PROMAYON (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Rafaëlle SPEAR (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Bertrand TRILLING (Enseignant-Chercheur)
- Sandrine VOROS (Chercheur)
- Catherine ZOPPIS (IT-BIATSS)
Others members
- Daphnée BRUT (Stagiaire)
- Rolf CLACKDOYLE (Chercheur)
- Jean Loup HABERBUSCH (ATER)
- Thi Thao HO (Chercheur contractuel)
- Mohamed MCHAOURI (Stagiaire)
- Kannara MOM (Chercheur contractuel)
- Simon RIT (Chercheur)
- Tanguy ROLLAND (Stagiaire)
- Jocelyne TROCCAZ (Chercheur)
- Zibo ZHANG (Enseignant-Chercheur contractuel)
PhD students
- Tarek ALSAKA (Doctorant)
- Paul-Antoine BEAUDOIN (Doctorant)
- Rémi DUPRAZ-ROGET (Doctorant)
- Louis LENFANT (Doctorant)
- Isaac PERRIN (Doctorant)
- Emilie PIETERSOONE (Doctorant)
- Margaux ROUX (Doctorant)
- Chloé SOORMALLY (Doctorant)
- Garance THOVISTE (Doctorant)
- Ambroise ULRICH (Doctorant)
Thesis currently supervised within CAMI team:
- Tarek ALSAKA : "Control of Continuum Robots for Medical Applications " (framed by Philippe CINQUIN , Mohamed Taha CHIKHAOUI )
- Paul-Antoine BEAUDOIN : "Utilisation de l'IA pour contribuer à l'évaluation du service médical rendu au sein des entrepôts de sonnées de santé " (framed by Sophie ACHARD (LJK) , Alexandre MOREAU GAUDRY )
- Rémi DUPRAZ-ROGET : "Image reconstruction in MoBI using deep learning " (framed by Max LANGER )
- Louis LENFANT : "Évaluation de l'apport de l’intelligence artificielle appliquée à l'imagerie des pathologies prostatiques " (framed by Clément BEITONE , Sandrine VOROS , Jocelyne TROCCAZ , Pierre MOZER (APHP) )
- Isaac PERRIN : "Fusion multimodale cardiaque " (framed by Clément BEITONE , Sandrine VOROS )
- Emilie PIETERSOONE : "Simulation Monte Carlo pour l’imagerie X de contraste de phase et champ sombre pour l’imagerie médicale et la microscopie " (framed by Max LANGER )
- Margaux ROUX : "Aide à la Décision dans le cadre de la Revascularisation ENdovAscuLaire des membres INfériEurs " (framed by Céline FOUARD )
- Chloé SOORMALLY : "Segmentation et recalage d'images pour la navigation des biopsies guidée par Intelligence Artificielle " (framed by Jocelyne TROCCAZ , Sandrine VOROS , Clément BEITONE )
- Garance THOVISTE : "Évaluation par l'apprentissage profond de la qualité de reconstructions 3D d'images CT appliquée à la chirurgie orthopédique " (framed by Clément BEITONE , Sandrine VOROS )
- Ambroise ULRICH : "Insertion d'implant cérébraux par un robot continu : conception et développement " (framed by Mohamed Taha CHIKHAOUI )
CamiTK is a rapid prototyping toolbox for software solutions in Computer Assisted Medical Intervention (CAMI).
The benefit for using our solution are multiple :
- Prototyping development time reduced by 30% to 50%
- Acceleration of convergence between research and clinical validation in CAMI
- Commercialisation of proprietary modules with high freedom-to-operate
- Clear intellectual property status of the different bricks within a solution
- Credibilisation of a CAMI project proposal
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In order to shorten the cycle time from the concept inspired by a clinical problem to the operational system providing a medical service, the GMCAO team has set up the ECCAMI Centre of Excellence, a platform of skills and equipment at the service of academic, clinical and industrial actors.
This centre of excellence dedicated to the improvement and enhancement of computer-assisted medical interventions is intended to be a "one-stop shop" for these actors, for all prospecting, exchange and innovation initiatives.
A hardware and software platform is thus made available to ECCAMI members. It includs state-of-the-art equipment (motorized C-Arm, digital detector, laparoscopy and elastography station of the latest generations...) as well as software licenses (ANSYS mechanical calculation, CamiTK rapid prototyping).
Contact : contact [at] eccami.fr
Scientific partners
CAMI team has local (with other research groups of TIMC laboratory and with several laboratories in COMUE University Grenoble Alpes), regional (including in projects funded by the Region Auvergne Rhône-Alpes), national (including via CAMI LabEx, steered by our team), and international collaborations (including Canada, Singapore, Chile, Israel, China, Iran, Mexico).
The scientific collaborations generally include thesis co-advisory avec partner laboratories in France and abroad.
Clinical partners
An additional highlight of the team regards the integration in the medical realm. The CIC-IT Maxitech and clinicians of the University Hospital of Grenoble Alpes are our natural, privileged partners. Together we conduct translational projects in urology, digestive surgery, orthopedy, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, maxilla-facial surgery/interventional radiology, radiotherapy, etc.
CAMI team has been developing partnerships with many other clinical collaborators throughout France (including University Hospital at Toulouse Purpan, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, Clinique Mutualiste des Eaux Claires in Grenoble, CMUDD) in diverse areas in surgery, radiology, and medicine.
Beyond the aforementioned projects, our collaboration implies hosting clinicians in our laboratory for Master and Doctoral theses in science.
Industrial partners
CAMI team has initiated directly or indirectly the creation of more than 10 start-ups since 1995, including PRAXIM (CAMI, recipient of Grand Prix IST in 2005), CAD-Implant (CAMI for dental implantology), KOELIS (CAMI for urology), ENDOCONTROL Medical (robotics for endoscopy), IMACTIS (CAMI for interventional radiology), SurgiQual Institute (CAMI systems’ development and certification/clearance), UroMEMS (microtechnology for urology), and Texisense (intelligent textile). UroMEMS and Texisens companies were recipient of OSEO national competition that support cutting-edge technology start-up creation. Industrial transfer agreements and/or long-term collaborations are maintained with these companies.
CAMI team has released several tens of international patents, filed by University Grenoble Alpes or the CNRS, as well as with industrial partners in some cases.
CAMI team also supported A3 Surgical, Imactis, and Surgivisio companies, recipient of the first edition of the worldwide competition Concours Mondial de l’Innovation.
Other collaborations exist with larger companies and big industrial groups by means of direct research contracts or collaborative projects (including ANR and FUI).
CAMI team is also partner of LSI Carnot Institute (Intelligent software and systems).