Development of a microfine active bending catheter equipped with MIF tactile sensors

An extremely fine active bending catheter devised for intravascular cerebral approaches is presented. A catheter with an outer diameter of /spl phi/1.5 mm and a total length of 1,500 mm has been developed. A shape memory alloy (SMA) wire is used as a bending actuator. In order to insert the catheter safely and rapidly by detecting contact between the catheter tip and vascular walls, and by actively bending the catheter to avoid the contact, the tip of this catheter is to be equipped with three tactile sensors fabricated by a MIF (Multi-function Integrated Film) technology. Fabrication of a macro-sized sensor prototype is currently complete. Also, evaluation of the catheter and the prototype sensor has been executed.

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