Thanks to a piezoelectric motor of 250 microns will be possible to carry out operations inside the body microsurgery
Researchers at the Micro / Nanophysics Research Laboratory at Monash University (Australia) have developed a prototype of a tiny motor, with a diameter of 250 microns, capable of powering autonomous surgical probes.
The project fits into the field of minimally invasive surgery using catheters, thin tubes placed in the cavities of the body through which to introduce miniaturized surgical instruments. These procedures reduce the damage and risks of traditional operations but the dangers are not fully canceled and the applicability of the techniques is limited by the size of the inserted catheters, which can also damage the artery walls where they are inserted.
Australian researchers have now created a miniature piezoelectric motor, known as “submarine” that can be injected into the circle to perform surgical procedures to help identify and remove thrombi from within the patient’s body.
The engine is indeed possible to connect a series of sensors and actuators to suit various purposes.
The piezoelectricity is based on the ability of some materials to generate an electric potential in response to mechanical stress. Now researchers are turning to the design and assembly of the motor and sensors.
James Friend, research coordinator, explained that “The possibility of use of micro motors abound in very different fields, from biomedical to electronics, to aeronautics and the automotive industry. The answers to different needs and different devices have been developed electromagnetic, thermal and electrostatic osmotic. piezoelectric design, however, has, however, particularly good scalability.
