Robotic Tentacle Could Assist in Surgery

May-15-15 A new robotic tentacle with a delicate touch could assist doctors during surgery by holding the organ steady without damaging it.

The ‘arm’ features two interconnecting modules that both contain three equally-spaced, inflatable cylindrical chambers. As the chambers are inflated, the module will bend and move in different directions. Each cylinder also contains a membrane filled with a granular material that controls the stiffness of the modules via “a granular jamming phenomenom.” (Much like how a vacuum-packed bag of coffee beans becomes less rigid when opened.)

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[DISCOVERY.COM]
[THEENGINEER.COM]

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