Miniaturized Cutting Tool With Triaxial Force Sensing Capabilities for Minimally Invasive Surgery

This paper reports a miniaturized triaxial force sensorized cutting tool for minimally invasive robotic surgery. This device exploits a silicon-based microelectromechanical system triaxial force sensor that acts as the core component of the system. The outer diameter of the proposed device is less than 3mm, thus enabling the insertion through a 9 French catheter guide. Characterization tests are performed for both normal and tangential loadings. A linear transformation relating the sensor output to the external applied force is introduced in order to have a triaxial force output in real time. Normal force resolution is 8.2bits over a force range between 0N and 30N, while tangential resolution is 7 bits over a range of 5N. Force signals with frequencies up to 250Hz can successfully be detected, enabling haptic feedback and tissue mechanical properties investigation. Preliminary ex vivo muscular tissue cutting experiments are introduced and discussed in order to evaluate the device overall performances.