Dexterous miniature in vivo robot for NOTES

TLDR

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) aims to eliminate external incisions and offers patient benefits, yet current flexible endoscopy tools are limited by incision size, triangulation, and multitasking challenges. The study seeks to develop a miniature in vivo robotic platform that provides a stable, multi‑tasking platform for tissue manipulation and visualization in NOTES. The platform is a miniature robot introduced through a natural orifice, designed to replicate laparoscopic manipulation and control within the peritoneal cavity. Prototype design and in vivo feasibility studies in a non‑survivable animal model demonstrate the platform’s potential for NOTES applications.

Abstract

The complete elimination of external incisions through natural orifice access to the peritoneal cavity is potentially the next step in reducing the invasiveness of surgery. Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) provides distinct patient advantages, but is surgically challenging. For the NOTES approach to be applied routinely, devices need to be developed that provide the surgeon with a stable multi-tasking platform for tissue manipulation and visualization. Much research towards device development for NOTES is based on the flexible endoscopy platform. However, these tools remain constrained by the entry incision and are further limited by challenges in tool triangulation, and multi-tasking capabilities. An alternative approach is the use of miniature in vivo robots that can be fully introduced into the peritoneal cavity through a natural orifice. A robotic platform for NOTES is being developed that attempts to emulate laparoscopic capabilities and control. This paper presents the prototype design of this platform and in vivo feasibility studies in non-survivable animal model procedures.