Follow-The-Leader Mechanisms in Medical Devices: A Review on Scientific and Patent Literature

Conventional medical instruments are not capable of passing through tortuous anatomy as required for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery due to their rigid shaft designs. Nevertheless, developments in minimally invasive surgery are pushing medical devices to become more dexterous. Amongst devices with controllable flexibility, so...

Flexible impulse transfer using a Newton's Cradle-inspired catheter: A feasibility study

A major challenge during minimally invasive surgery is transfer of high forces through small, flexible instruments, such as needles and catheters, because of their low buckling resistance. In this study, we determined the feasibility of using a Newton's Cradle-inspired catheter (patented) to transfer high-force impulses. Exerting a high-force...