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A multifunctional soft robot for cardiac interventions
Jacob Rogatinsky1, Dominic Recco2, Joseph Feichtmeier3
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Science Advances
|October 25, 2023
Summary
A new soft robotic platform enhances dexterity and stability for minimally invasive heart procedures. This robotic tool guides catheters, improving surgical capabilities within the beating heart.
Area of Science:
- Medical Robotics
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Cardiovascular Interventions
Background:
- Current endovascular procedures use catheters with limited dexterity for complex intracardiac navigation.
- The beating heart environment poses unique challenges for interventional tool maneuverability and force application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a millimeter-scale soft robotic platform for enhanced intracardiac intervention.
- To improve the dexterity, stability, and force application of catheter-based tools within the heart.
Main Methods:
- Demonstration of a deployable and self-stabilizing soft robotic platform.
- Testing the platform's ability to guide interventional tools in two exemplar intracardiac procedures within the right atrium.
Main Results:
- The robotic platform achieved high dexterity, reaching multiple anatomical targets in the right atrium.
- The platform demonstrated stability for maintaining contact with motile targets.
- It generated newton-level forces, providing significant mechanical leverage.
Conclusions:
- The soft robotic platform addresses key challenges in minimally invasive intracardiac interventions.
- This technology has the potential to advance the development of novel catheter-based treatments for cardiac conditions.
