In this feature we share an important project carried out by Kawasaki Robotics in collaboration with Yuyama Manufacturing: a case study that demonstrates how robotics can revolutionise the pharmaceutical sector, ensuring safety, reliability, and continuity in the preparation of chemotherapy drugs.
At the heart of the project is ChemoRo the Spike, a robot designed for the mixing and automated preparation of anti-cancer drugs. It integrates the Kawasaki MC004N robot, developed specifically for this project and engineered to operate in high-risk medical environments.
Who is Yuyama Manufacturing
Founded in 1964, Yuyama Manufacturing is a Japanese company specialising in the development of systems and equipment for the healthcare sector. From powder dispensing machines to electronic record systems and sterilisation units, Yuyama Manufacturing provides advanced solutions to support hospitals and pharmacies, helping to address staff shortages and operational safety challenges.
Protecting healthcare staff
Anti-cancer drugs are usually prepared manually in drug preparation centres. These are delicate, repetitive operations that expose operators to significant risks: accidental contamination, complications in pregnancy and long-term health, as well as the rising costs of closed-system drug transfer devices (CSTDs).
These challenges gave rise to the need to automate the preparation of oncology drugs: an ambitious goal that led Yuyama Manufacturing to develop ChemoRo the Spike, with the technological contribution of Kawasaki Robotics.
The birth of a collaboration
Although Yuyama Manufacturing had initially consulted Kawasaki Robotics, the use of Kawasaki robots in ChemoRo was not foreseen at the time: the company did not yet have a range of 6-axis robots suitable for such applications.
As development progressed, however, Yuyama’s technical team was impressed by Kawasaki’s availability and collaborative approach. This led to the idea of joining forces: Kawasaki was commissioned to develop a new robot - the MC004N - specifically designed for “cleanroom” environments. This decision marked the beginning of a strong and synergistic collaboration.
Why a 6-axis robot
Automating the preparation of chemotherapy drugs meant addressing three key challenges:
- Handling a wide variety of drugs.
- Variable dosages depending on the preparation.
- Adapting to different protocols and techniques used across hospitals and universities.
To provide the required flexibility, a robot capable of movements similar to the human hand was essential. The choice therefore fell on the Kawasaki MC004N 6-axis robot, designed specifically for contamination-controlled environments.
A decisive element was its hollow wrist design, with internal cabling, which reduces the risk of collisions or spillage of drug vials, a vital safety factor when handling highly toxic substances.
Development challenges and solutions
For Yuyama Manufacturing, adopting a 6-axis robot was a completely new experience. Another objective was to maintain a design similar to the existing safety cabinets used by operators, ensuring easy cleaning and continuity with current practices. This led to the choice of a ceiling-mounted robot, capable of automatically replicating the same operations carried out by pharmacists.
Kawasaki Robotics provided full technical support, working closely with the team during development and fine-tuning. Some initial obstacles concerned the accuracy of repetitive movements: even the smallest positioning errors could result in incorrect needle insertion or material breakage.
The challenge was not with the robot itself but with the variability of the tools used depending on the manufacturer (syringes, needles, infusion bags). The solution came through detection systems and collaborative correction, which allowed the robot to dynamically adapt its movements to the actual position of the needle or the rubber stopper of the infusion bags.
Benefits for hospitals and patients
The automation introduced by ChemoRo the Spike delivers concrete benefits.
Protection of staff: operators are no longer exposed to anti-cancer drugs.
Greater patient safety: infusion bags are placed outside the cabinet, avoiding risks of exposure to radiation.
Work optimisation: freeing up staff time for higher-value tasks, such as direct patient care.
In the many hospitals where it has been adopted, ChemoRo has helped reinforce trust in Yuyama’s technical expertise, leading to the choice of other equipment manufactured by the company.
Looking ahead
Yuyama Manufacturing and Kawasaki Robotics continue to work together to make the MC004N robot even more compact, simplifying integration in smaller spaces and encouraging adoption across more facilities.
The spread of these solutions will be supported by awareness and outreach activities at congresses and conferences, with the goal of further improving safety and quality of work in healthcare.
With ChemoRo the Spike, Kawasaki Robotics is helping to reduce risks for both doctors and patients, paving the way for a new era of pharmaceutical automation: safer, more reliable, and closely aligned with the real needs of the sector.