Value Proposition
· Dexterous distal unit minimizes contact stress on delicate eye tissues
· Enables precise manipulation
· Innovative wire drive mechanism enhances accuracy
· Instrument can be detached from the motor unit, facilitating cleaning, sterilization, and the attachment of various surgical tools
· Extremely lightweight, minimizing intraocular disturbance and allowing better maneuverability
Unmet Need
· Retinal surgery can be performed only by surgeons possessing advanced surgical skills because of the small, confined intraocular space, and the restricted free motion of instruments in contact with the sclera. Therefore, there is a need to develop advanced robotic technologies for retinal surgery. Snake-like robots could be essential for use in retinal surgery to overcome this problem. Such robots can approach from suitable directions and operate on delicate tissues.
Technology Description
· Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed the I2RIS, a snake-like robotic system for retinal surgery. The dexterous distal unit features small elements to minimize tissue stress during delicate operations, and the drive unit introduces a novel wire drive mechanism, improving assembly and accuracy. The I2RIS is lightweight, compact, and maneuverable. Experimental validation confirms its effectiveness at performing accurate maneuvers and potential for use in precise intraocular procedures.
Stage of Development
· Currently, a functional prototype of the I2RIS has been developed.
Data Availability
· Data available upon request.
Iordachita, I.I., de Smet, M.D., Naus, G., Mitsuishi, M., and Riviere, C.N., “Robotic Assistance for Intraocular Microsurgery: Challenges and Perspectives,” in Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 110, no. 7, pp. 893-908, Jul. 2022, DOI: 10.1109/JPROC.2022.3169466.
Jinno, M. and Iordachita, I., “Improved Integrated Robotic Intraocular Snake: Analyses of the Kinematics and Drive Mechanism of the Dexterous Distal Unit.” Journal of Medical Robotics Research. vol. 06, no.01n02, pp.1-13, p. 2140001, May 2021, https://doi.org/10.1142/S2424905X21400018.
Jinno, M., Iordachita, I., “Microgripper Using Flexible Wire Hinge for Robotic Intraocular Snake”, In 2022 IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Philadelphia, PA, US, pp. 6218-6224, May 2022.
U.S. Patent Application
