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Updated: Jan 7, 2026
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Magnetically-Assisted Remote Controlled Microcatheter Tip Deflection under Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: April 4, 2013
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Magnetically controlled microrobotic system for programmable stiffness tuning and active steering of microcatheters
Yuan Liu1, Jing Huang1, Xuhui Zhao1
1Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
Nature Communications
|December 23, 2025
Summary
A novel magnetic soft microrobot, Helixoft, offers adaptable stiffness and steering for surgical instruments in narrow spaces. This robotic system enhances microcatheter capabilities for precise procedures without causing damage.
Area of Science:
- Medical Robotics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
Background:
- Surgical tasks in confined lumens require instruments with adaptable mechanical properties.
- Current microcatheters lack effective strategies for dynamic stiffness tuning, limiting their maneuverability and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microrobotic system for dynamic stiffness tuning and precise steering in microcatheters.
- To enable advanced surgical interventions in delicate luminal environments.
Main Methods:
- A helix-shaped magnetic soft microrobot (Helixoft) was designed for integration with commercial microcatheters.
- Magnetic control was used for independent stiffness tuning and active steering via decoupled helical motion and torque-driven bending.
- The system was tested in ex-vivo oviduct biopsy and in-vivo bronchial drug delivery in pigs.
Main Results:
- Helixoft achieved continuous stiffness tuning (up to 40-fold) and precise magnetic steering.
- The integrated microcatheter demonstrated large-angle navigation, accurate payload delivery, and localized tissue biopsy without buckling or damage.
- Successful validation was shown in ex-vivo and in-vivo animal models.
Conclusions:
- The Helixoft system provides a minimally disruptive robotic solution for mechanical reconfiguration in confined luminal environments.
- This technology enhances the capabilities of microcatheters for complex surgical tasks.
- Magnetic control offers a safe and effective method for dynamic stiffness and steering adjustment.
