Tiny Mechanical Wrist Could Change Needlescopic Surgery

Jul-28-15 A tiny mechanical wrist able to enter through tiny incisions in the body could pave the way for new techniques in needlescopic surgery.

Created by a team from Vanderbilt University, the mechanical wrist has a diameter of only 0.05 inches—the smallest yet—and can bend by up to 90 degrees. The device was made using a nitinol metal alloy, a shape memory material with advanced properties. Slots etched along the device’s shaft enable the wrist to bend when pulled by a wire attached at the tip, allowing for more precise control than with conventional designs. When the wire is released, the device returns to its original shape.

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[MEDGADGET.COM]
[NEWS.VANDERBILT.EDU]

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