Intelligent Systems
Note: This research group has relocated.

A Helical Microrobot with an Optimized Propeller-Shape for Propulsion in Viscoelastic Biological Media

2019

Article

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One major challenge for microrobots is to penetrate and effectively move through viscoelastic biological tissues. Most existing microrobots can only propel in viscous liquids. Recent advances demonstrate that sub-micron robots can actively penetrate nanoporous biological tissue, such as the vitreous of the eye. However, it is still difficult to propel a micron-sized device through dense biological tissue. Here, we report that a special twisted helical shape together with a high aspect ratio in cross-section permit a microrobot with a diameter of hundreds-of-micrometers to move through mouse liver tissue. The helical microrobot is driven by a rotating magnetic field and localized by ultrasound imaging inside the tissue. The twisted ribbon is made of molybdenum and a sharp tip is chemically etched to generate a higher pressure at the edge of the propeller to break the biopolymeric network of the dense tissue.

Author(s): Li., D. and Jeong, M. and Oren, E. and Yu, T. and Qiu, T.
Journal: Robotics
Volume: 8
Pages: 87
Year: 2019
Month: October
Day: 15
Publisher: MDPI

Department(s): Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems
Bibtex Type: Article (article)
Paper Type: Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics8040087
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/8/4/87/htm

BibTex

@article{Li2019b,
  title = {A Helical Microrobot with an Optimized Propeller-Shape for Propulsion in Viscoelastic Biological Media},
  author = {Li., D. and Jeong, M. and Oren, E. and Yu, T. and Qiu, T.},
  journal = {Robotics},
  volume = {8},
  pages = {87},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  month = oct,
  year = {2019},
  doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics8040087},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/8/4/87/htm},
  month_numeric = {10}
}