A sensorised forcep based on piezoresistive force sensor for robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery

Abstract

This paper reports a sensorized forcep with a minimized force sensing chip to facilitate Robotic-assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery (RMIS). A piezoresistive triaxial force sensor chip ( <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$2\ \text{mm}\times 2\ \text{mm}$</tex> ) is developed and integrated in the grasping head of a continuum robot to provide additional tactile to the RMIS. Biocompatible hemisphere cap enhances the sensor's capability of triaxial force detection. A 3-dimensioanl (3D) force test is performed on the sensorized forcep. This simple strategy of configuration and sensing makes it possible in miniaturization of the forceps (outside diameter is less than 4 mm) for RMIS in the strictest operating space.