A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators
Abstract Laparoscopic instruments are usually not deflectable and therefore have significant usability limitations in minimally invasive surgery. Flexible-tip devices have been introduced, but they are still controlled by manual Bowden cables or conventional motors and are heavy and expensive. An in...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95898-8 |
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| author | Malte Pietsch Konrad Henkel René Körbitz Ronny Hüttner Kai Uhlig Sascha Bruk Matthieu Fischer Jochen Hampe Andreas Richter Franz Brinkmann |
| author_facet | Malte Pietsch Konrad Henkel René Körbitz Ronny Hüttner Kai Uhlig Sascha Bruk Matthieu Fischer Jochen Hampe Andreas Richter Franz Brinkmann |
| author_sort | Malte Pietsch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Laparoscopic instruments are usually not deflectable and therefore have significant usability limitations in minimally invasive surgery. Flexible-tip devices have been introduced, but they are still controlled by manual Bowden cables or conventional motors and are heavy and expensive. An interesting alternative are shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, because they are lightweight, cost-efficient and offer the potential for a universal actuator platform for laparoscopic and other endoscopic instruments. This paper presents a laparoscopic video camera with electronic deflection control via thumb joystick. Its actuator unit consists of four SMA wires, whose special tensioning mechanism ensures both optimal preload and length compensation. The camera is tiltable in two degrees of freedom, enabled by a laser-cut Nitinol joint. Based on three assembled units and an automated measurement system, the functionality of the camera system was characterised. Deflection angles of more than 178° per degree of freedom were achieved. At operating frequencies of up to 0.5 Hz, the units showed suitable deflection behaviour. Each remained operational for more than 1200 actuation cycles or 4.4 h of continuous operation. Furthermore, the influence of continuous temperature stimulation on characteristic device parameters was investigated. This work contributes to demonstrating the feasibility of SMA actuators for the electrical control of flexible-tip laparoscopic instruments. Temperature control in particular is a challenge for future work. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d282c7f7172240c0addae4b2f8a056bc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d282c7f7172240c0addae4b2f8a056bc2025-08-20T03:07:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-95898-8A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuatorsMalte Pietsch0Konrad Henkel1René Körbitz2Ronny Hüttner3Kai Uhlig4Sascha Bruk5Matthieu Fischer6Jochen Hampe7Andreas Richter8Franz Brinkmann9TUD Dresden University of Technology, Chair of MicrosystemsTUD Dresden University of Technology, Chair of MicrosystemsTUD Dresden University of Technology, Chair of MicrosystemsTUD Dresden University of Technology, Chair of MicrosystemsIPF Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research DresdenIPF Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research DresdenIPF Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research DresdenDepartment of Medicine I, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden University HospitalTUD Dresden University of Technology, Chair of MicrosystemsDepartment of Medicine I, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden University HospitalAbstract Laparoscopic instruments are usually not deflectable and therefore have significant usability limitations in minimally invasive surgery. Flexible-tip devices have been introduced, but they are still controlled by manual Bowden cables or conventional motors and are heavy and expensive. An interesting alternative are shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, because they are lightweight, cost-efficient and offer the potential for a universal actuator platform for laparoscopic and other endoscopic instruments. This paper presents a laparoscopic video camera with electronic deflection control via thumb joystick. Its actuator unit consists of four SMA wires, whose special tensioning mechanism ensures both optimal preload and length compensation. The camera is tiltable in two degrees of freedom, enabled by a laser-cut Nitinol joint. Based on three assembled units and an automated measurement system, the functionality of the camera system was characterised. Deflection angles of more than 178° per degree of freedom were achieved. At operating frequencies of up to 0.5 Hz, the units showed suitable deflection behaviour. Each remained operational for more than 1200 actuation cycles or 4.4 h of continuous operation. Furthermore, the influence of continuous temperature stimulation on characteristic device parameters was investigated. This work contributes to demonstrating the feasibility of SMA actuators for the electrical control of flexible-tip laparoscopic instruments. Temperature control in particular is a challenge for future work.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95898-8EndoscopyLaparoscopic surgeryMedical roboticsShape memory alloysSmart materials |
| spellingShingle | Malte Pietsch Konrad Henkel René Körbitz Ronny Hüttner Kai Uhlig Sascha Bruk Matthieu Fischer Jochen Hampe Andreas Richter Franz Brinkmann A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators Scientific Reports Endoscopy Laparoscopic surgery Medical robotics Shape memory alloys Smart materials |
| title | A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators |
| title_full | A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators |
| title_fullStr | A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators |
| title_full_unstemmed | A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators |
| title_short | A deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators |
| title_sort | deflectable video camera system for laparoscopic surgery based on shape memory alloy actuators |
| topic | Endoscopy Laparoscopic surgery Medical robotics Shape memory alloys Smart materials |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95898-8 |
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