IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering

Here we show an enhanced powered guide wired helical millirobot for mechanical thrombectomy in cardiovascular intervention capable of autonomous therapeutics. We build up and demonstrate a millimeter robot fabrication with a spherical joint and a guidewire, a high-power and frequency actuation via external electromagnetic field control, and autonomous therapeutic motions comprise driving, steering, and drilling. We validate all performances in two-dimensional fluidic channels mimicking the vascular network and finally in-vivo environments. Beyond nature-inspired millirobot technologies, our work has the potential of advanced mechanical thrombectomy application and advancement of micrometer and millimeter robot technology toward real clinical utilization... Read more

Technical skill assessment plays an important role in the professional development of an interventionalist in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), however, most of traditional assessment methods are time-consuming and subjective. This paper aims to develop objective and automatic assessment techniques for... Read more