IIT Kharagpur Partners with Intuitive Foundation to Advance AI-Enabled Surgical Models

The collaboration involves faculty from IIT Kharagpur and clinical partners, including Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to surgical research.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has announced a new research collaboration with the Intuitive Foundation to explore the development of AI-enabled digital models for robotic surgery.

The new initiative seeks to strengthen the scientific foundation for safer, more consistent, and potentially automated surgical procedures.

Under the new initiative, IIT Kharagpur researchers will work alongside clinicians and technology specialists to build structured digital representations of surgical workflows.

Reportedly, the project will leverage the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK), a non-clinical research platform built from retired robotic surgical systems, designed to provide controlled laboratory experimentation without involving human patients.

Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur, said, “This programme reflects the strength of collaboration between academia, clinicians, and global technology partners in addressing complex challenges in surgical care. By working closely with the Intuitive Foundation and our clinical collaborators, we are combining engineering science with real-world surgical expertise to build knowledge that can be shared, validated, and collectively advanced. Such partnerships are crucial to developing robust and responsible frameworks that enhance surgical safety and promote improved outcomes for patients worldwide.”

Further, the research programme is designed to map decision-making processes and repetitive tasks across surgical procedures, to support AI-driven decision support tools and responsible early-stage automation.

By analysing real-world surgical data, particularly from documented procedures such as cholecystectomy, the team aims to refine these digital models, which are expected to improve procedural safety and predictability.

The research project aims to develop a comprehensive digital footprint of the surgical pathway, enabling AI-driven systems that integrate diagnostic details, planned scenarios, intra-operative context, and recovery data to highlight safer techniques, flag deviations, and trace the sources of complications.

The project also aims to identify routine tasks suitable for automation so that surgeons can focus on complex decision-making during operations.

Commenting on the partnership, Rohit Mahajan, Vice President and General Manager, Intuitive India, said, “Intuitive is committed to supporting academic research that drives scientific progress in minimally invasive care. Through the dVRK platform, universities can explore new concepts to accelerate the future of robotic-assisted surgery. IIT Kharagpur’s expertise in surgical informatics and robotics makes it a valued collaborator and academic partner, and we are pleased to collaborate with the institute in the efficient translation of research ideas into practical applications. We look forward to supporting the team here in their mission to reduce variability of patient outcomes through standardisation of decision making in surgery by leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning.”

The collaboration involves faculty from IIT Kharagpur and clinical partners, including Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to surgical research.

The findings from the project are expected to contribute to broader research efforts in surgical informatics, robotics, and AI-driven clinical decision support

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