Compliant joint echogenicity in ultrasound images: towards highly visible steerable needles

Radio frequency ablation is commonly used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinicians rely on imaging techniques, such as medical ultrasound, to confirm an accurate needle placement. This accuracy may improve by means of active needle steering techniques, which are currently in development. Needle steering will likely increase the...

Design and evaluation of a wasp-inspired steerable needle

Flexible steerable needles can follow complex curved paths inside the human body. In a previous work, we developed a multiple-part steerable needle prototype with a diameter of 1.2 mm, inspired by the ovipositor of parasitoid wasps. The needle consisted of seven nickel-titanium longitudinally aligned wires held together at the tip by a...