The BIROMED-Lab develops bio-inspired robotic and mechatronic systems tailored for medical applications from idea to functional prototypes for fast translation.
Our portfolio spans mechatronics, mechanical design, micromachining, robotics, control engineering, human-machine interaction, and real-time data processing. Thanks to this broad expertise, we maintain strong collaborations to medical industry. 

A main focus of the BIROMED-Lab is contributing to the next generation of robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. Within this context, our work comprises developing comprehensive surgical platforms composed of several highly specialized subsystems, like positioning and stabilization mechanisms for robotic endoscopes, flexible robotic endoscopes for single port surgery, new technologies in force sensing for endoscopes, intuitive telemanipulation interfaces, or highly integrated optics and spray systems for robot-assisted endoscopic laser surgery. In particular the flagship project MIRACLE II (short for Minimal Invasive Robot-Assisted Computer-guided LaserosteotomE) enables us to work on long-term goals for minimal-invasive robot-assisted laser surgery. 

At BIROMED-Lab, our mission spans the full spectrum of medical care, surgical training, and rehabilitation. In diagnostics and data acquisition, we develop technologies such as the “InSEA2SpineBot”, enabling deeper insights into the biomechanics of scoliotic spines of children and adolescents. In the field of surgical training, we design high-fidelity  haptic simulators across multiple medical specialties to support skill development. For surgical interventions, we are currently pursuing five major projects focusing on endoscopic brain surgery with series elastic tendon driven actuation, tooth preparation using a miniature robot for a fully digitalized workflow in tooth preparation and implantology, in situ 3D bioprinting to allow robots regenerating tissues directly on the patient, cornea augmentation for a novel approach curing myopia in the PRISM project, and the developing a robotic midi arthrotome for robot-assisted laser-based preparation of cartilage beds for regenerative medicine in the LAROCARE project.

In collaboration with the CADENCE, we also contribute to rehabilitation research through systems such as the FLOAT, the worlds first 3-dimensional rehabilitation robot for safe body weight-supported overground gait training. 

The BIROMED-Lab supports part of three major research foci at the DBE: the flagship project MIRACLE, generously funded by Werner Siemens Stiftung, the Focal Area Laser and Robotics, and the CADENCE core facility. The BIROMED-Lab was founded in May 2016 when Georg Rauter was appointed assistant professor, continues growing due successful acquisition of national and international research projects, and became a structural entity of the University of Basel in 2022 with the appointment of Georg Rauter as the chair for surgical robotics within the medical faculty.

Georg Rauter is also head of IFToMM Switzerland since 2018, as well as a board member of the Swiss Robotics Association founded in 2024 in Basel, and he serves as the co-lead for the Graduate School Medical and Health Sciences (GSMHS) at the medical Faculty of University of Basel.

Besides a good internal embedding of the BIROMED-Lab at the DBE and University of Basel, also collaborations are well established with other internationally renowned institutions ( Sensory-Motor Systems-Lab @ ETH Zürich, Paralab @ the Balgrist and University of Zürich, Clinic for Reconstructive Dentistry @ University of Zurich, Technical University of Innsbruck, MCI Innsbruck, Artrog center @ University of Bern, Fraunhofer IMTE, Institut für Mechatronische Systeme @ Leibnitz University Hannover) and companies (Rehastim Medtech AG, Camlog, Brütsch Technolog, Maxon, Stäubli, Beckhoff, and Mathworks). 

Medical Advisors are Niklaus F. Friederich, Raphael Guzman, Cordula Netzer, Michael Hirschmann, Heide Elke Viehweger, Carol Hasler, Daniel Studer, Florian Thieringer, Hans-Florian Zeilhofer, Ronald Jung, and Svetozar Subotic