Soft Medical Robots

This talk will discuss the smart materials, fabrication, 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 enables 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 with a vision for the future development and impacts of soft medical robots – aided by and synergized with technologies such as mechanics-based AI, VR, and precision medicine.