Ionut Marian Zima

Mr. Ionut Marian Zima

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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16 January 2025 in Technologies
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BGBogdan Gherman
Bogdan Gherman
IZIonut Marian Zima
Ionut Marian Zima
Calin VaidaCalin Vaida
Calin Vaida
PTPaul Tucan
Paul Tucan
Adrian PislaAdrian Pisla
Adrian Pisla
Doina PislaDoina Pisla
Doina Pisla
Background: Cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis represent significant neurological conditions affecting millions globally. Stroke remains the third leading cause of death worldwide and significantly impacts patients’ hand functionality, making hand rehabilitation crucial for improving quality of life. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted analyzing over 300 papers, and categorizing them based on mechanical design, mobility, and actuation systems. To evaluate each device, a database with 45 distinct criteria was developed to systematically assess their characteristics. Results: The analysis revealed three main categories of devices: rigid exoskeletons, soft exoskeletons, and hybrid devices. Electric actuation represents the most common source of power. The dorsal placement of the mechanism is predominant, followed by glove-based, lateral, and palmar configurations. A correlation between mass and functionality was observed during the analysis; an increase in the number of actuated fingers or in functionality automatically increases the mass of the device. The research shows significant technological evolution with considerable variation in design complexity, with 29.4% of devices using five or more actuators while 24.8% employ one or two actuators. Conclusions: While substantial progress has been made in recent years, several challenges persist, including missing information or incomplete data from source papers and a limited number of clinical studies to evaluate device effectiveness. Significant opportunities remain to improve device functionality, usability, and therapeutic effectiveness, as well as to implement advanced power systems for portable devices.

23 October 2024 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DPDaria Pisla
Daria Pisla
VBVasile Nicolae Bulbucan
Vasile Nicolae Bulbucan
MHMihaela Hedeșiu
Mihaela Hedeșiu
Calin VaidaCalin Vaida
Calin Vaida
IZIonut Marian Zima
Ionut Marian Zima
TGTEAM Project Group
TEAM Project Group
Background: Recent advancements in dental implantology have significantly improved outcomes, with success rates of 90–95% over a 10-year period. Key improvements include enhanced preplanning processes, such as precise implant positioning, model selection, and optimal insertion depth. However, challenges remain, particularly in achieving correct spatial positioning and alignment of implants for optimal occlusion. These challenges are pronounced in patients with reduced bone substance or complex anthropometric features, where even minor misalignments can result in complications or defects. Methods: This paper introduces a vision-guided robotic system designed to improve spatial positioning accuracy during dental implant surgery. The system incorporates advanced force-feedback control to regulate the pressure applied to bone, minimizing the risk of bone damage. A preoperative CBCT scan, combined with real-time images from a robot-mounted camera, guides implant positioning. A personalized marker holder guide, developed from the initial CBCT scan, is used for patient–robot calibration. The robot-mounted camera provides continuous visual feedback of the oral cavity during surgery, enabling precise registration of the patient with the robotic system. Results: Initial experiments were conducted on a 3D-printed mandible using a personalized marker holder. Following successful patient–robot registration, the robotic system autonomously performed implant drilling. To evaluate the accuracy of the robotic-assisted procedure, further tests were conducted on 40 identical molds, followed by measurements of implant positioning. The results demonstrated improved positioning accuracy compared to the manual procedure. Conclusions: The vision-guided robotic system significantly enhances the spatial accuracy of dental implants compared to traditional manual methods. By integrating advanced force-feedback control and real-time visual guidance, the system addresses key challenges in implant positioning, particularly for patients with complex anatomical structures. These findings suggest that robotic-assisted implant surgery could offer a safer and more precise alternative to manual procedures, reducing the risk of implant misalignment and associated complications.

23 December 2024 in Applied Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Calin VaidaCalin Vaida
Calin Vaida
GRGabriela Rus
Gabriela Rus
PTPaul Tucan
Paul Tucan
José MachadoJosé Machado
José Machado
Adrian PislaAdrian Pisla
Adrian Pisla
Doina PislaDoina Pisla
Doina Pisla
Stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease are some of the conditions that can lead to neuromotor disabilities requiring rehabilitation. To address the socio-economic burden that is amplified by the rapidly increasing elderly population, traditional rehabilitation techniques have recently been complemented by technological advancements, particularly Robot-Assisted Therapy (RAT). RAT enhances motor learning by improving both accuracy and consistency. This study proposes an innovative rehabilitation system that combines serious gaming and augmented reality (AR) with the LegUp parallel robot, developed for the spatial rehabilitation of the hip, knee, and ankle in bed-ridden patients. The system aims to improve patient outcomes and actively involve patients in their therapy. Electro-goniometers and a HoloLens 2 device are used to provide immediate feedback about the position of the patient’s joints, forming the basis of an interactive game in which the patient moves their leg to reach various targets. Two game modes were developed, each targeting different aspects of neuromotor rehabilitation, such as coordination, strength, and flexibility. Preliminary findings suggest that combining RAT with augmented reality-based serious gaming can increase patient motivation and engagement. Furthermore, the personalized and interactive nature of the therapy holds the potential to improve rehabilitation outcomes by fostering sustained engagement and effort.

17 July 2025 in Actuators
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PTPaul Tucan
Paul Tucan
OVOana Maria Vanta
Oana Maria Vanta
Calin VaidaCalin Vaida
Calin Vaida
MCMihai Ciupe
Mihai Ciupe
DSDragos-Daniel Sebeni
Dragos-Daniel Sebeni
Doina PislaDoina Pisla
Doina Pisla
This paper presents the development of a fuzzy-PID control able to adapt to several robot–patient interaction modes by monitoring patient evolution during the rehabilitation procedure. This control system is designed to provide targeted rehabilitation therapy through three interaction modes: passive; active–assistive; and resistive. By integrating a fuzzy inference system into the classical PID architecture, the FPID controller dynamically adjusts control gains in response to tracking error and patient effort. The simulation results indicate that, in passive mode, the FPID controller achieves a 32% lower RMSE, reduced overshoot, and a faster settling time compared to the conventional PID. In the active–assistive mode, the FPID demonstrates enhanced responsiveness and reduced error lag when tracking a sinusoidal reference, while in resistive mode, it more effectively compensates for imposed load disturbances. A rehabilitation scenario simulating repeated motion cycles on a healthy subject further confirms that the FPID controller consistently produces a lower overall RMSE and variability.

22 January 2026 in Electronics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Florin CovaciuFlorin Covaciu
Florin Covaciu
BGBogdan Gherman
Bogdan Gherman
NHNadim Al Hajjar
Nadim Al Hajjar
IZIonut Marian Zima
Ionut Marian Zima
CPCalin Popa
Calin Popa
Doina PislaDoina Pisla
Doina Pisla
Manual alignment between the trocar, surgical instrument, and robot during minimally invasive surgery (MIS) can be time-consuming and error-prone, and many existing systems do not provide autonomous localization and pose estimation. This paper presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted, vision-guided framework for automated localization and positioning of the ATHENA parallel surgical robot. The proposed approach combines an Intel RealSense RGB–depth (RGB-D) camera with a You Only Look Once version 11 (YOLO11) object detection model to estimate the 3D spatial coordinates of key surgical components in real time. The estimated coordinates are streamed over Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to a programmable logic controller (PLC) using Modbus/TCP, enabling closed-loop robot positioning for automated docking. Experimental validation in a controlled setup designed to replicate key intraoperative constraints demonstrated submillimeter positioning accuracy (≤0.8 mm), an average end-to-end latency of 67 ms, and a 42% reduction in setup time compared with manual alignment, while remaining robust under variable lighting. These results indicate that the proposed perception-to-control pipeline is a practical step toward reliable autonomous robotic docking in MIS workflows.

4 February 2026
Verified
Book Chapter
Closed access
APAlexandru-Vasile Vasile Pusca
Alexandru-Vasile Vasile Pusca
Florin CovaciuFlorin Covaciu
Florin Covaciu
ABAlin Burz
Alin Burz
AHAlin Horsia
Alin Horsia
PMPierre Mougenot
Pierre Mougenot
Doina PislaDoina Pisla
Doina Pisla