Development of a Force Sensor for a Neuroendovascular Intervention Support Robot System

Neuroendovascular catheterization using fluoroscopy poses the problem to operators and staffs of cumulative radiation exposure. To solve this problem, we are developing a remote-controlled master-slave robot. Because a wire-like elongated treatment device is inserted into a blood vessel using a catheter, the robot requires a sensor to detect the insertion force of the wire. The proposed sensor is integrated into a robot installed in an X-ray fluoroscopy room that is remotely controlled from another room. The features of this sensor include measurement of the insertion force with sufficient accuracy, simple wire attachment, and an inexpensive disposable sensor head, rendering it very suitable for practical application. In this paper, we report on these features, as well as the results of a practical test of the sensor using a cerebrovascular model.