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# 2025 Vine4Spine |
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Vine4Spine is a soft, steerable robot that navigates the spinal subarachnoid space for targeted therapeutic delivery. Inspired by climbing plants, it advances via tip-growing eversion rather than pushing, reducing friction and risk to delicate tissue. Less than 2 mm wide, it integrates real-time force sensing and imaging, and fits through a standard Tuohy needle. This platform enables safe, repeatable access to deep CNS targets for gene therapies, biologics, and other emerging treatments
"Brandon Saldarriaga graduated from King’s College London in 2021, after completing M.Eng. Biomedical Engineer degree. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Surgical Robotics at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences of King’s College London, United Kingdom. Brandon partook in the MedTech accelerator program at the London Institute of Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) during 2024. His re- search interests include micro-surgical robotics fabrication and system control. In addition he is a member of the Robotics and Vision in Medicine (RViM) Lab."more
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Low-cost neurosurgical navigation for life-saving brain procedures
Minimally invasive radiotherapy for liver and solid tumours
University of California, Los Angeles
Internal radiotherapy with stabilising bladder balloon
