Operating rooms may soon see robots assisting neurosurgeons in brain surgery, according to the European Union on Monday.

Researchers from Britain, Germany, Italy and Israel have developed a robotic hand that can assist neurosurgeons during delicate procedures. The EU-funded Robocast project can help surgeons treat tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease and Tourette Syndrome.

The project which cost 3.45M Euros is focused on robot-assisted keyhole neurosurgery where a surgeon access the brain through a small hole in the skull called a "burr hole". The procedure requires a steady hand which is often not the case with human doctors. The robots can reduce a surgeon's hand tremors ten-fold.

"If any activity requires precision, its neurosurgery, so I am delighted this EU-funded research is helping surgeons and patients to be safer," digital agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement. "If we can cut waiting lists and deliver better results for patients as Europe's population ages, I think EU-funded technology projects like this will pay us back many times over.

The Robocast team developed the hardware for the robot called mechatronics and the software which provides the intelligence for the multiple-robot unit. The mechatronic phase of the project involves two robots and one bio-mimetic probe that combines with one integrated sensory motor framework to operate like one unit. The probe is controlled by one robot as it is inserted in the "burr hole". The path inside the brain is controlled by the robot using a combination of sensors.

The Robocast robot is capable of 13 degrees of movement where neurosurgeons can only perform four types of movement. The robot can also provide haptic feedback so that the doctor can judge the force applied during the procedure.

The Robocast team has only performed on a robot model. The team is still developing the technology before it can be applied to live operating theater.

The EU is also funding another project called Active that will develop robotic neurosurgery for patients who need to remain awake during such procedures. This project will involve up to three robots, two robots will have sensors while the third robot will smooth head movements.