Spherical Wrist Manipulator Local Planner for Redundant Tasks in Collaborative Environments.

Standard industrial robotic manipulators use well-established high performing technologies. However, such manipulators do not guarantee a safe Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), limiting their usage in industrial and medical applications. This paper proposes a novel local path planner for spherical wrist manipulators to control the execution of tasks where the manipulator number of joints is redundant. Such redundancy is used to optimize robot motion and dexterity. We present an intuitive parametrization of the end-effector (EE) angular motion, which decouples the rotation of the third joint of the wrist from the rest of the angular motions. Manipulator EE motion is controlled through a decentralized linear system with closed-loop architecture. The local planner integrates a novel collision avoidance strategy based on a potential repulsive vector applied to the EE. Contrary to classic potential field approaches, the collision avoidance algorithm considers the entire manipulator surface, enhancing human safety. The local path planner is simulated in three generic scenarios: (i) following a periodic reference, (ii) a random sequence of step signal references, and (iii) avoiding instantly introduced obstacles. Time and frequency domain analysis demonstrated that the developed planner, aside from better parametrizing redundant tasks, is capable of successfully executing the simulated paths (max error = 0.25°) and avoiding obstacles.

Soft Robotic Manipulator for Improving Dexterity in Minimally Invasive Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Combining the strengths of surgical robotics and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) holds the potential to revolutionize surgical interventions. The MIS advantages for the patients are obvious, but the use of instrumentation suitable for MIS often translates in limiting the surgeon capabilities (eg, reduction of dexterity and maneuverability and demanding navigation around organs). To overcome these shortcomings, the application of soft robotics technologies and approaches can be beneficial. The use of devices based on soft materials is already demonstrating several advantages in all the exploitation areas where dexterity and safe interaction are needed. In this article, the authors demonstrate that soft robotics can be synergistically used with traditional rigid tools to improve the robotic system capabilities and without affecting the usability of the robotic platform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A bioinspired soft manipulator equipped with a miniaturized camera has been integrated with the Endoscopic Camera Manipulator arm of the da Vinci Research Kit both from hardware and software viewpoints. Usability of the integrated system has been evaluated with nonexpert users through a standard protocol to highlight difficulties in controlling the soft manipulator. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This is the first time that an endoscopic tool based on soft materials has been integrated into a surgical robot. The soft endoscopic camera can be easily operated through the da Vinci Research Kit master console, thus increasing the workspace and the dexterity, and without limiting intuitive and friendly use.

Acoustic Coupling Quantification in Ultrasound-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery: Simulation-Based Evaluation and Experimental Feasibility Study.

Adequate acoustic coupling between the therapeutic transducer and the patient's body is essential for safe and efficient focused ultrasound surgery (FUS). There is currently no quantitative method for acoustic coupling verification in ultrasound-guided FUS. In this work, a quantitative method was developed and a related metric was introduced: the acoustic coupling coefficient. This metric associates the adequacy of the acoustic coupling with the reflected signals recorded through an imaging probe during a low-energy sonication. The acoustic coupling issue was simulated in silico and validated through in vitro tests. Our results indicated a sigmoidal behavior of the introduced metric as the contact surface between the coupling system and the patient's skin increases. The proposed method could be a safety-check criterion for verifying the adequacy of the acoustic coupling before starting the FUS treatment, thus ensuring efficient energy transmission to the target and preventing damage to both the patient and the instrumentation.

Highly dexterous 2-module soft robot for intra-organ navigation in minimally invasive surgery.

BACKGROUND: For some surgical interventions, like the Total Mesorectal Excision (TME), traditional laparoscopes lack the flexibility to safely maneuver and reach difficult surgical targets. This paper answers this need through designing, fabricating and modelling a highly dexterous 2-module soft robot for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). METHODS: A soft robotic approach is proposed that uses flexible fluidic actuators (FFAs) allowing highly dexterous and inherently safe navigation. Dexterity is provided by an optimized design of fluid chambers within the robot modules. Safe physical interaction is ensured by fabricating the entire structure by soft and compliant elastomers, resulting in a squeezable 2-module robot. An inner free lumen/chamber along the central axis serves as a guide of flexible endoscopic tools. A constant curvature based inverse kinematics model is also proposed, providing insight into the robot capabilities. RESULTS: Experimental tests in a surgical scenario using a cadaver model are reported, demonstrating the robot advantages over standard systems in a realistic MIS environment. CONCLUSION: Simulations and experiments show the efficacy of the proposed soft robot.