The goal of this project is to design and prototype a dexterous robotic manipulator (-10 mm in size) for minimally invasive surgery. The robotic manipulator will provide surgeons with a new and more-dexterous tool for performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The robotic manipulator have a wide variety of applications in minimally invasive surgery, including suturing, dissection, and retraction, in procedures such as removal of the gall bladder and bowel resection. This robotic technology can also be adapted to arthroscopic and atheroscopic applications. As the design of the hand is compatible with low-cost batch fabrication of miniature actuators, it is anticipated that the disposable robotic manipulator will be cost-competitive with existing minimal invasive surgical tools.
