Catheter-mounted microrobot

Catheter-Mounted Microrobot

This technology provides a microrobot mechanism for precise steering and drilling within blood vessels, utilizing a magnetic microrobot that generates rotational torque via an external magnetic field, along with a connector and ball bearing structure that attaches it to a catheter.

Conventional catheter-based vascular procedures lack a dedicated drive unit, making precise steering difficult, while high-speed rotational drilling poses a high risk of damaging the inner vessel walls.

This technology features a detachable connector and ball bearing at the catheter tip, combined with a magnetic microrobot containing an internal magnet, allowing for precise rotation and drilling control at low speeds through external magnetic field manipulation. Applicable to surgical robots, interventional systems, and medical automation, it improves operational speed control and enables safer surgical procedures in complex blood vessels.

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Key Features:

• A connector featuring one side that attaches to the catheter end and another side that houses the ball bearing.
• A magnetic microrobot that includes a magnet and ball bearing assembly area, performing drilling operations via an external magnetic field.
• A cylindrical magnet inserted inside the connector to enhance the steering of the magnetic microrobot.
• A rolling bearing containing a specific number of balls, determined by the magnetic field strength and magnetic settings.

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the development of a micro-medical robot system for treating chronic total occlusion in myocardial infarction.