At the ASME IDETC-CIE conference in Washington, DC, we had the opportunity to present the prototype of the “3D Capsule Compliant Gripper”. This novel surgical manipulation tool was specifically designed to make lymph node isolation even more precise and gentle.
Our approach: a capsule-like structure with flexible, shape-optimized elements that have been tailored using a hill-climbing mutation algorithm. The white “petals” of the prototype were 3D printed from PLA, the red flexible components from TPU. Thanks to the cost-effective production at our institute, we were able to create the first efficient solution on a macro scale, which serves as a proof of concept.
Contact: Estefania Hermoza Llanos
