Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles
Abstract Positioning a thin needle into a solid substrate near a target region is difficult because the needle can easily bend and buckle. Nevertheless, in nature, female parasitic wasps can do this by using buckling prevention and steering mechanisms. This study presents a self-propelled needle tha...
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| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15031-7 |
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| author | Jette Bloemberg David Justin Jager Paul Breedveld Aimée Sakes |
| author_facet | Jette Bloemberg David Justin Jager Paul Breedveld Aimée Sakes |
| author_sort | Jette Bloemberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Positioning a thin needle into a solid substrate near a target region is difficult because the needle can easily bend and buckle. Nevertheless, in nature, female parasitic wasps can do this by using buckling prevention and steering mechanisms. This study presents a self-propelled needle that incorporates wasp-inspired steering mechanisms, specifically, the use of pretension and asymmetry within the needle segments. The needle with an outer diameter of 0.89 millimeters comprises seven parallel needle segments, with the central needle segment being either straight for a forward trajectory or prebent for steering purposes. By retracting and rotating the prebent central needle segment, the needle is capable of omnidirectional steering. The performance of the needle in tissue-mimicking phantoms was evaluated in terms of its propulsion efficiency and steering performance. The propulsion efficiency, affected by slippage of the needle segments with respect to the tissue-mimicking phantoms, was, on average, 63% ± 4% for forward motion and 55% ± 7% for steering motion. Moreover, the needle successfully steered with a mean deflection-to-insertion ratio of 0.41 ± 0.11 (i.e., radius-of-curvature of 44 mm). The proposed bioinspired needle design is a relevant step toward developing steerable needles for percutaneous interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9c1077ea63684d1280194cd08c71ae20 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-9c1077ea63684d1280194cd08c71ae202025-08-24T11:25:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-15031-7Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needlesJette Bloemberg0David Justin Jager1Paul Breedveld2Aimée Sakes3Bio-Inspired Technology (BITE) Group, Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of TechnologyDepartment of Electronic and Mechanical Support Division, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Delft University of TechnologyBio-Inspired Technology (BITE) Group, Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of TechnologyBio-Inspired Technology (BITE) Group, Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of TechnologyAbstract Positioning a thin needle into a solid substrate near a target region is difficult because the needle can easily bend and buckle. Nevertheless, in nature, female parasitic wasps can do this by using buckling prevention and steering mechanisms. This study presents a self-propelled needle that incorporates wasp-inspired steering mechanisms, specifically, the use of pretension and asymmetry within the needle segments. The needle with an outer diameter of 0.89 millimeters comprises seven parallel needle segments, with the central needle segment being either straight for a forward trajectory or prebent for steering purposes. By retracting and rotating the prebent central needle segment, the needle is capable of omnidirectional steering. The performance of the needle in tissue-mimicking phantoms was evaluated in terms of its propulsion efficiency and steering performance. The propulsion efficiency, affected by slippage of the needle segments with respect to the tissue-mimicking phantoms, was, on average, 63% ± 4% for forward motion and 55% ± 7% for steering motion. Moreover, the needle successfully steered with a mean deflection-to-insertion ratio of 0.41 ± 0.11 (i.e., radius-of-curvature of 44 mm). The proposed bioinspired needle design is a relevant step toward developing steerable needles for percutaneous interventions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15031-7BioinspiredDesignNeedleParasitoid waspPercutaneous intervention |
| spellingShingle | Jette Bloemberg David Justin Jager Paul Breedveld Aimée Sakes Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles Scientific Reports Bioinspired Design Needle Parasitoid wasp Percutaneous intervention |
| title | Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles |
| title_full | Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles |
| title_fullStr | Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles |
| title_short | Steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles |
| title_sort | steering strategies for wasp inspired self propelled needles |
| topic | Bioinspired Design Needle Parasitoid wasp Percutaneous intervention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15031-7 |
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