PROMI
Programmable Robotics for MRI Integration
A major R&D program led by Tekceleo to deliver the first standardized, MRI-compatible actuation platform — enabling MedTech companies and researchers to build MRI-compatible devices and robots faster, safer, and at lower cost.
Co-funded bythe European Union
FEDER / Région SUD
Why PROMI?
MRI provides surgeons with unmatched real-time soft-tissue imaging. Yet conventional robots — which rely on electromagnetic motors and standard electronics — are fundamentally incompatible with the intense magnetic fields of an MRI scanner. Only non-magnetic, MRI-compatible motors can operate safely in this environment.
Despite years of academic research, no MRI-compatible surgical robot is commercially available today. The core barrier is the lack of a reliable, standardized actuation solution that industry and research teams can simply integrate.
This is exactly the gap PROMI addresses: providing a ready-to-integrate, MRI-safe actuation platform built on Tekceleo's ultrasonic piezoelectric motors — a building block that MedTechs and researchers can use to develop their own devices, without rebuilding the foundational technology from scratch.
A Turnkey Actuation Platform for MRI-Compatible Robotics
PROMI delivers a complete, standardized actuation ecosystem — from motors to software — designed from the ground up for safe operation inside MRI scanners. Every component is engineered for MRI material safety, imaging transparency, and operational compatibility.
Mechanical Transmission & Accessories
Each PROMI module is a self-contained 1-DOF mechanical unit — designed to be assembled into multi-DOF robotic systems (up to 3 DOF standard, extensible to 6+) using standardized, quick-connect interfaces. Mechanical, electrical and logical connections are unified so that combining modules does not require full MRI re-validation. All materials are non-ferromagnetic, imaging-transparent, and manufactured using scalable processes (3D printing, micro-moulding) for compact integration inside the MRI bore.
Motorisation — Ultrasonic Progressive-Wave Motors
PROMI's actuation layer is built on Tekceleo's proprietary WLG-series ultrasonic motors: compact rotary actuators (<80 mm diameter) delivering up to 2 N·m of torque at speeds up to 350 RPM — with zero magnetic interference. Inherently MRI-safe by design, these piezoelectric motors offer high precision and repeatability with no electromagnetic emissions, no ferromagnetic components, and no excessive heating. Linear motion conversion and dedicated linear USM solutions are also part of the roadmap.
→ Explore our USM motor rangeSensors — MRI-Conditional Closed-Loop Control
Reliable feedback is critical inside a 3T magnetic field. PROMI integrates MRI-compatible position, force and end-of-travel sensors into each module — enabling closed-loop control with absolute position tracking, collision detection, and mechanical locking. The architecture is designed to support haptic feedback and autonomous self-test routines for each module, with built-in error and fault modes to meet medical device safety requirements (IEC 60601-1).
Signal & Electrical Transmission
Operating inside a powerful MRI scanner means every cable is a potential antenna. PROMI's signal transmission layer uses fully shielded, MRI-compatible power and control distribution — combining optical fibre, passive transmission, and EMC-compliant cabling to eliminate RF interference and imaging artifacts. The architecture minimises cable count and supports automatic calibration at system startup, ensuring signal integrity between the actuation modules inside the bore and the control electronics at distance.
Control Electronics — Resonant, Transformer-Less
PROMI eliminates all ferromagnetic components from the motor control chain through a proprietary resonant, transformer-less electronic architecture. This allows the control electronics to operate safely in close proximity to — or even inside — the MRI scanner, reducing cable length, latency, and the need for bulky shielded enclosures. The control/command module provides a clean, optimised split between embedded and remote electronics, supporting multi-DOF coordination for robotic systems of 3+ degrees of freedom.
Software Development Environment
Program your MRI robot in days, not months. PROMI provides an open software interface so that robotics engineers can focus on their application — not on low-level motor control in a hostile electromagnetic environment. The SDK offers PC-based control via standard frameworks (ROS, DICOM-compatible), a standardised API to drive any combination of modules, and built-in calibration and diagnostic tools.
→ Learn more about our R&DMilestones
A structured, validation-driven development path from core technology to deployable platform.
Modular architecture specification. System requirements. Partners alignment.
Motor design validation, transformer-less electronics development, and first compatibility pre-tests inside MRI environment.
Multi-DOF module assembly and functional testing inside an MRI scanner.
Platform characterisation and MR-Conditional pre-validation with clinical and academic partners.
Team & Scientific Advisory Board
Supported By
PROMI brings together leading academic and clinical institutions, supported by European and regional public funding.
INSERM / Univ. de Lorraine
University College London
Development Fund
Regional co-funding
PROMI News & Updates
Launching PROMI: Tekceleo for a major breakthrough in MRI robotics
We are proud to announce the launch of PROMI, a major R&D project led by Tekceleo and co-funded by the European Union — aimed at building the first standardized MRI-compatible actuation platform.
Read the announcement →We will regularly publish milestones, technical updates, and partnership news as PROMI progresses. Follow Tekceleo on LinkedIn to stay informed.
Follow on LinkedInJoin the PROMI Journey
PROMI is more than a research project — it is an open invitation to build the future of MRI-compatible robotics together.
Use the PROMI platform as a validated base to accelerate your research in MRI-guided robotics and interventional systems.
Integrate certified MRI-safe actuators into your devices. Reduce time-to-market and certification burden with a ready-to-use foundation.
Help define clinical needs, participate in validation studies, and shape the next generation of MRI-guided robotic interventions.
Co-funded by the European Union — FEDER / Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
The PROMI project receives support from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the Région Sud PACA. The views expressed are those of Tekceleo and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the Region.
