Scientists have developed small, magnetically controlled surgical instruments featuring wrist-like joints for dexterous and minimally invasive endoscopic neurosurgeries.
A supporting study conducted by Changyan He and colleagues showed that endoscopes fitted with these tools – including a gripper, scalpel and forceps – could perform simulated tumour removal in a 3D-printed brain, enabling in vivo neurosurgery in living piglets. The study demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of these tools in a controlled experimental setting.
Endoscopic neurosurgery carries a lower risk than conventional open brain procedures but involves rigid and straight tools that limit dexterous movements.
Since surgeons typically rely on their wrists to pivot and tilt tools during open neurosurgery, endoscopic devices that facilitate ‘wristed’ motions are needed.
Here, Changyan He and colleagues developed low-cost, modular magnetic tools that can fit the ends of endoscopic robots.
They designed a gripper with a wrist and jaws containing an embedded magnet. External magnetic fields can rotate the wrist as desired and open the jaws, which remain closed by default.
A second device – a magnetic pivoting scalpel – works by swinging around a wrist joint.
The authors also constructed magnetic forceps for tasks that require more significant force, such as biopsies.
This device contains a magnet that twists a string to pull the forceps shut or releases it under a magnetic field.
He et al. integrated magnetic tools into a robotic system, operating them wirelessly to conduct simulated surgeries on a silicone brain, including tumour removal and corpus callosotomy.
The team subsequently assessed the tools on two live piglets during neurosurgical procedures, demonstrating that the scalpel, gripper, and forceps could effectively perform their respective functions in clinical environments.
The study concluded that these magnetic neurosurgical tools could significantly enhance patient outcomes by facilitating more precise and less invasive surgeries for deep-seated brain tumours, epilepsy, and other neurosurgical conditions.
