Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) have developed a new approach to minimally invasive surgical tools, as was reported in a press release. This method allows large endoscopic devices to be brought into the body through a narrow catheter.
The researchers disassemble such devices into individual parts and then slide them through the catheter in a row, like a string of pearls. At the end of the catheter, the parts assemble themselves into a predefined shape thanks to built-in magnets. When retracted, the parts automatically return to their linear form that fits through the catheter.
The mechanism is reminiscent of modern tent poles, which are connected by a cord and can be folded together. Rather than a cord, the team led by ETH doctoral student Hongri Gu combined soft, elastic segments with rigid segments into which the tiny magnets are incorporated to create their magnetic soft-robotic chains (MaSoChains). These can self-fold into large assemblies with stable configurations using a combination of elastic and magnetic energies. ETH demonstrated this in a brief video.
This magnetic design method also makes it possible for an endoscope head to perform movements with very tight radii and angles that are not feasible with today’s endoscopes. According to ETH, this increased mobility broadens the possibilities when designing devices for minimally invasive surgery on organs such as the intestine or the stomach. The scientists published their demonstration study in the journal Nature Communications. mm
Related news
Meet with an expansion expert
Our services are free of charge and include:
- Introduction to key contacts in industry, academia, and government
- Advice on regulatory framework, taxes, labor, market, and setting up a company
- Custom-made fact-finding visits, including office and co-working space