MemoBox: A mechanical follow-the-leader system for minimally invasive surgery

With the increase in Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery procedures, there is an increasing demand for surgical instruments with additional degrees of freedom, able to travel along tortuous pathways and guarantee dexterity and high accuracy without compromising the surrounding environment. The implementation of follow-the-leader...

A Fully 3D-Printed Steerable Instrument for Minimally Invasive Surgery

In the field of medical instruments, additive manufacturing allows for a drastic reduction in the number of components while improving the functionalities of the final design. In addition, modifications for users’ needs or specific procedures become possible by enabling the production of single customized items. In this work, we present the...

Additive manufacturing of medical instruments: A state-of-the-art review

Goal: Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has begun to play a significant role in the field of medical devices. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview and classification of additively manufactured medical instruments for diagnostics and surgery by identifying medical and technical aspects. Methods: A scientific...

A variable stiffness mechanism for steerable percutaneous instruments: Integration in a needle

Needles are advanced tools commonly used in minimally invasive medical procedures. The accurate manoeuvrability of flexible needles through soft tissues is strongly determined by variations in tissue stiffness, which affects the needle-tissue interaction and thus causes needle deflection. This work presents a variable stiffness mechanism for...