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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
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Design and Fabrication of an Elastomeric Unit for Soft Modular Robots in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Published on: November 14, 2015
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K-FLEX: A flexible robotic platform for scar-free endoscopic surgery
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Summary
A new flexible robotic platform, K-FLEX, enhances endoscopic surgery by improving manipulator strength and payload capacity. This innovation allows for more advanced procedures with greater precision and stability.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Endoscopic platforms offer lesion accessibility but struggle with flexible manipulators for advanced procedures.
- Current flexible manipulators lack the high payload capability required for complex surgeries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a flexible robotic platform with enhanced payload capacity for advanced endoscopic surgery.
- To address the limitations of existing endoscopic manipulators in terms of strength and stability.
Main Methods:
- A flexible robotic platform, K-FLEX, was designed with a 17 mm diameter.
- A robust continuum manipulator was engineered to minimize distortion under load.
- Kinematic analysis and master-slave teleoperation strategies were developed.
Main Results:
- The manipulator demonstrated minimal trajectory variation (7.5 mm) when lifting 300 g.
- The K-FLEX system's feasibility was confirmed through three simulated surgical tasks.
Conclusions:
- The K-FLEX prototype shows potential for enabling advanced endoscopic surgeries.
- The developed robot offers improved payload capability for endoscopic interventions.
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