Soft Robotics and Flexible Electronics in Medical Applications

The medical field is witnessing a paradigm shift with the advent of soft robotics and flexible electronics. These technologies offer unique advantages over traditional rigid systems, enabling safer interactions with human tissues and seamless integration with the body. Soft robots, characterized by their compliant materials and structures, are revolutionizing medical interventions from surgical instruments to rehabilitation devices. Concurrently, flexible electronics allow for the development of conformal, stretchable, and even biodegradable electronic systems, paving the way for advanced wearable sensors and implantable devices. The synergy between these technologies is opening new avenues in personalized and patient-centered care. Furthermore, their potential applications in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR) for medical visualization and training underscore the transformative impact these innovations may have on future medical practices and education.

This research topic aims to explore the cutting-edge developments, challenges, and future directions in the application of soft robotics and flexible electronics within the medical field. We seek to:

• Highlight innovative designs and fabrication techniques for medical soft robots and flexible electronic devices.

• Investigate novel materials and structures that enhance biocompatibility and functionality.

• Examine the integration of sensing, actuation, and control systems in soft robotic medical devices.

• Explore applications in minimally invasive surgery, targeted drug delivery, and tissue engineering.

• Assess the potential of wearable and implantable devices for continuous health monitoring and personalized medicine.

• Evaluate the development of soft robotic prosthetics and orthoses for improved patient mobility and quality of life.

• Investigate the potential of soft robotics and flexible electronics in AR/VR/XR medical technologies.

By bringing together diverse expertise and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, we aim to accelerate the development and clinical translation of soft robotics and flexible electronics in medicine, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and more effective, personalized healthcare solutions.

We welcome contributions from researchers, engineers, clinicians, and technology experts working at the intersection of soft robotics, flexible electronics, and medical applications. The scope of this research topic includes, but is not limited to, original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and case studies that address the goals outlined above. We encourage submissions that provide novel insights, critical analyses, or comprehensive overviews of the current state of the art and future directions in this rapidly evolving field.

Authors should focus on the medical applications of soft robotics and flexible electronics, emphasizing their potential to improve patient care, enhance medical procedures, or revolutionize healthcare delivery. Interdisciplinary approaches that combine engineering, materials science, medical science, and other relevant fields are particularly welcome. All submissions should adhere to the journal's guidelines and undergo peer review to ensure high-quality, impactful contributions to this important area of medical technology.

Keywords: Soft robotics, Flexible electronics, Biomedical engineering, Wearable sensors, Implantable devices, Minimally invasive surgery, Rehabilitation robotics, Biomaterials

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.