Finding the ideal position for interventional needles – as used in biopsies – is a difficult and time-consuming process that can now be performed automatically, using a robotic arm to place a needle guide for the doctor at the optimal insertion point. With robotic assistance, doctors need five minutes to position the needle, as opposed to 30 minutes with conventional techniques. An ultrasound shows a shadow on the liver – but is it a tumour? Often, the only way to conclusively answer this question is to perform a biopsy, to send the suspected tissue to a laboratory for testing. However, placing the biopsy needle with precision is far from easy.