SU-D-213AB-06: Surface Texture and Insertion Speed Effect on Needle Friction

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Medical Device Design

Background:

• High friction between needles and tissue causes deflection, compromising accuracy in procedures like brachytherapy and biopsies.
• Accurate needle placement is critical for maximizing the efficacy of medical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of needle surface roughness and insertion speed on frictional forces during tissue interaction.
• To identify methods for reducing friction to improve needle placement accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Friction experiments were conducted using bovine liver and three needles with varying surface roughness (Ra = 3.43, 1.33, and 0.2 μm).
• Needles were advanced and retracted through liver tissue at speeds of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mm/s.
• Frictional forces were measured using a force sensor, with liver tissue compressed to simulate physiological conditions.

Main Results:

• The roughest needle (Ra = 3.43 μm) exhibited 68-74% lower friction force compared to the smoothest needle (Ra = 0.2 μm) across all tested speeds.
• The intermediate roughness needle (Ra = 1.33 μm) showed a 25-64% reduction in friction force compared to the smoothest needle.
• Increased insertion speed generally correlated with reduced frictional forces for all needle types.

Conclusions:

• Rougher needle surface textures and higher insertion speeds effectively reduce frictional forces between needles and biological tissues.
• These findings suggest potential for optimizing needle design and insertion parameters to enhance procedural accuracy.
• Future research will focus on modeling and predicting frictional forces based on surface texture and insertion speed.