Adaptive wireless millirobotic locomotion into distal vasculature

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Robotics
• Endovascular Surgery

Background:

• Minimally invasive endovascular procedures offer advantages over open surgery but face challenges in accessing distal, tortuous vasculature.
• Current microcatheter limitations necessitate advanced solutions for safe and effective navigation in complex vascular networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a wireless, stent-shaped magnetic soft robot for active navigation and functional deployment in challenging distal cerebral arteries.
• To demonstrate the robot's capability for shape-adaptive locomotion and potential therapeutic applications in treating cerebrovascular diseases.

Main Methods:

• Development of a wireless, magnetic soft robot designed for stent-like deployment and active shape control.
• Testing of robot locomotion in emulated physiological conditions, including narrow lumens, sharp curves, bifurcations, and pulsatile flow.
• Ex vivo validation of locomotion and stability in porcine arteries.

Main Results:

• The robot successfully demonstrated shape-adaptive locomotion in simulated tortuous M4 middle cerebral artery segments with varying lumen diameters and high flow rates.
• The robot maintained position and stability even when magnetic actuation was deactivated, showcasing inherent structural resilience.
• Locomotion capabilities were confirmed in ex vivo porcine arteries.

Conclusions:

• The wireless magnetic soft robot represents a significant advancement for distal endovascular access and intervention.
• Potential applications include targeted thrombolysis, flow diversion for aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, and treatment of brain tumors.
• This technology promises to expand the scope of minimally invasive endovascular therapies in neurovascular applications.