Magnetoelectric surgical tools for minimally invasive surgery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical tool, comprising:
- a magnetoelectric member attached to a catheter, wherein the magnetoelectric member includes at least one piezoelectric layer and at least one magnetostrictive layer, wherein said magnetoelectric member is configured to be inserted and deployed into a subject and is operable inside said subject to one or more of bend or elongate based on an applied magnetic field applied externally to said subject, wherein said at least one piezoelectric layer produces an electrical output;
a controller configured to determine a difference between an actual amount of bending or elongation of said magnetoelectric member based on said electrical output from said at least one piezoelectric layer and a theoretical amount of bending or elongation of said magnetoelectric member based on said applied magnetic field; and
a feedback member configured to provide feedback to a user of said surgical tool based on an amount of said difference determined by said controller.
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Abstract
A magnetoelectric element of a surgical tool positioned in the body of a subject is controllably bent or elongated under the influence of an applied magnetic field. A piezoelectric layer in the magnetoelectric element provides output that can be used to determine the actual amount of bending or elongation of the magnetoelectric element, and this actual amount is compared to a theoretical amount of bending or elongation which would result from the applied magnetic field. Any differences between the actual and theoretical amounts provide feedback to the surgeon for performing the surgical procedure. Preferably, tactile feedback is provided to the surgeon.
7 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A surgical tool, comprising:
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a magnetoelectric member attached to a catheter, wherein the magnetoelectric member includes at least one piezoelectric layer and at least one magnetostrictive layer, wherein said magnetoelectric member is configured to be inserted and deployed into a subject and is operable inside said subject to one or more of bend or elongate based on an applied magnetic field applied externally to said subject, wherein said at least one piezoelectric layer produces an electrical output; a controller configured to determine a difference between an actual amount of bending or elongation of said magnetoelectric member based on said electrical output from said at least one piezoelectric layer and a theoretical amount of bending or elongation of said magnetoelectric member based on said applied magnetic field; and a feedback member configured to provide feedback to a user of said surgical tool based on an amount of said difference determined by said controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for surgical operations, comprising:
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a magnetic field generating device for generating an applied magnetic field external to a subject, wherein at least a portion of said applied magnetic field is capable of permeating said subject; and a surgical tool comprising; a magnetoelectric member attached to a catheter, wherein the magnetoelectric member includes at least one piezoelectric layer and at least one magnetostrictive layer, wherein said magnetoelectric member is configured to be inserted and deployed into a subject and is operable inside said subject to one or more of bend or elongate based on an applied magnetic field applied externally to said subject, wherein said at least one piezoelectric layer produces an electrical output; a controller configured to determine a difference between an actual amount of bending or elongation of said magnetoelectric member based on said electrical output from said at least one piezoelectric layer and a theoretical amount of bending or elongation of said magnetoelectric member based on said applied magnetic field; and a feedback member configured to provide feedback to a user of said surgical tool based on an amount of said difference determined by said controller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical tool, comprising:
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a magnetoelectric member including at least one piezoelectric layer and at least one magnetostrictive layer, wherein said magnetoelectric member is attached to a catheter, is configured to be inserted and deployed into a subject, undergoes elongation and bending due to an applied magnetic field applied externally to said subject, and is configured to perform surgical procedures; a comparator configured to determine a difference between an actual elongation or bending of said magnetoelectric member and a theoretical elongation or bending of said magnetoelectric member for said applied magnetic field based on an electrical output from said at least one piezoelectric layer connected by a wire or by wireless communication with said comparator; a controller incorporating said comparator, said controller configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of said difference; an input device connected to said controller operated by a user, said input device configured to adjust said applied magnetic field and to provide a tactile feedback to said user through said input device based on said electrical signal generated by said controller; and a computer connected to said input device, said computer configured to adjust said applied magnetic field to remotely perform said surgical procedures inside said subject based on said electrical signal generated by said controller.
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Specification