Soft Medical Robots—Innovation and Translation

This talk will discuss the design, fabrication, control, and clinical translations of soft medical robots. We will use a magnetically-steerable soft guidewire robot capable of teleoperated robotic neurointervention as an example. We will first discuss the theory of magnetically-responsive soft materials that enable predictive models for the large deformation and actuation of the soft robot. Then we will discuss how to use the massive simulation data of the models to guide the design, 3D printing, and control of the soft robot. Thereafter, we will demonstrate the soft guidewire robots’ applications in remotely treating hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes by robotic aneurysm coiling and clot retrieval, respectively. We will validate the safety and efficacy of the soft guidewire robot in both phantom models and live pig models, and compare its performances with experienced neurointerventionalists carrying out manual operations. I will conclude the talk by discussing the clinical translation and FDA approval process of soft medical robots by Magnendo Inc.