Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a medical robotic system that intervenes in the event of a life-threatening tension pneumothorax. The solution will be presented for the first time at the Automatica 2025 robotics trade fair. It enables telemedical treatment during evacuation flights and was developed as part of the EU project iMEDCAP, funded by the European Defense Fund.

A tension pneumothorax is caused by an accumulation of air between the pleura and lungs, for example after road traffic accidents or gunshot wounds. The pressure in the chest compresses the lungs, heart and blood vessels, which can be fatal within minutes if not treated quickly. The robotic system inserts a decompression needle to allow the air to escape. An “end effector” combines ultrasound diagnostics with a needle-catheter system to localize precise puncture points (Monaldi or Bülau point). After the puncture, the catheter remains in the body while the needle is removed, saving time for further treatment.

The mechanism was developed by Carolin Müller and researchers from the Chair of Microtechnology and Medical Device Technology (MiMed) in collaboration with the Department of Trauma Surgery at TUM Hospital. Prof. Peter Biberthaler emphasizes the time savings for patients. The iMEDCAP project, launched in December 2023 with 25 million euros in funding, aims to provide autonomous medical care and evacuation in crisis areas. Under TUM leadership, 24 organizations from nine countries, including the German Armed Forces and the start-up AVILUS, are working on drones such as the “Grille” for remote-controlled evacuations with robotic treatment.

Other modules that stop bleeding or administer medication are under development. Prof. Tim Lüth emphasizes the robustness of the systems, which have to function in seconds. The technology offers potential for military and civil emergencies such as natural disasters.

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