Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST’s) School of Engineering have developed a compact multifunctional biomedical robot.
The robot, which is 60% smaller than current models, enables imaging and high-precision motion, along with sampling, drug delivery, and laser ablation operations.
It provides competitive imaging performance and improved obstacle detection, enabling robotic applications in narrow and challenging channels of the human body.
With a slim profile of just 0.95mm, the robot simultaneously integrates all three significant specifications into a single device.
It extends obstacle detection distance up to 9.4 mm, a tenfold improvement from theoretical limits.
Also, the device delivers a superior motion precision of less than 30μm and widens the imaging region by around 25 times the inherent view.
Shen Yajing said: “Small-scale continuum robots hold promise for interventional diagnosis and treatment, yet existing models often struggle with compactness, precise navigation, and visualised functional treatment all in one.
“Our study provides a significant solution for developing a surgical robot aimed at achieving early diagnosis and therapeutic goals in hard-to-reach areas of the body.
“With ongoing technological advancements, we believe that the fiberscopic robot will make greater contributions to human health in the foreseeable future.”
HKUST Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) associate professor SHEN Yajing and team designed the robot in a compact size, with four major components.
The robot comes with an optical fibre array for capturing images inside the body and a custom tool for precise delivery of the treatments.
It also features a hollow skeleton to hold the fibres and tools in place, a functionalised skin for precise control of the robot’s movements, and a gel-like outer layer that reduces friction.
The hollow skeleton is produced using a microscale 3D printer, and functionalised skin through a magnetic spray technique, to keep the robot small and glide easily during surgery.
The researchers tested the compact robot in bronchial models and ex-vivo porcine lungs.
In the studies, the robot showed smooth navigation in tight spaces while capturing clear images and delivering treatments to difficult areas.
HKUST postdoctoral fellow ZHANG Tieshan said: “We aim to further optimise the design and control of the fiberscopic robot, prioritising safety and reliability during interventional surgery. We look forward to implementing in vivo trials to demonstrate its performance in clinical scenarios.”
