Boğaziçi University Develops Robotic System for Biopsy Procedures

Prof. Dr. Şenol Mutlu, a faculty member at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Boğaziçi University, has developed a technology that can be placed on the body surface to perform interventions such as biopsies during Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging. Thanks to this technology, which is based on developing wireless and battery-free actuators, doctors will be able to perform biopsies using a robotic system that they can control remotely with a controller. [caption id="attachment_125328" align="aligncenter"] Prof. Dr. Şenol Mutlu[/caption] An actuator is a type of motor that moves a mechanism or system. Actuators that require an energy source to operate generally receive this energy from electrical current, but they can also convert various forms of energy such as thermal, magnetic, and hydraulic into motion. Actuators typically run on batteries and access power through cables. However, the actuator model developed by Prof. Dr. Şenol Mutlu and his team at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Boğaziçi University operates wirelessly and without batteries, allowing it to be placed on the body surface to perform interventions such as biopsies inside MR devices.

Compatible with MR devices

In the system developed by Prof. Dr. Mutlu for MR devices, power transmission is provided by light rather than electrical cables: "We thought we could benefit from the very high intensity magnetic field that is always present inside MR devices, for example 3 Tesla, to perform the desired movement. We created electrical current in a coil inside the magnetic field using light power. This current, with the help of the MR device's magnetic field, was able to produce the desired movement. Because of the strong magnetic fields in MR devices, you cannot introduce magnetic materials and cables into this environment. The moment you introduce cables, they start to heat up. There are environmentally compatible batteries for MR devices, but batteries are an unfriendly and short-lived energy source."

First system in MR devices with light-powered energy and electrically controlled movement

Prof. Dr. Şenol Mutlu, stating that the purpose of the system they developed is to perform remote interventions using a controller without introducing cables into the MR device and without using batteries, explains this difference as follows: "Normally, when doctors perform a biopsy, they use the images obtained from the MR device to determine the point where the biopsy will be performed and take tissue samples by inserting a needle. It seems impossible to do this in the narrow space inside the MR device. In the technology we developed, a robotic system will perform the needle insertion and tissue collection procedures, and the doctor will be able to control it remotely through a controller. Until now, there have been systems that provided control using air pressure or mechanical rotation, but there was no application where power was transmitted by light and movement was achieved electrically." Mutlu, who previously stated that in systems powered by electrical energy using different methods, electricity was transported to the device through cables, said: "When electrical cables are involved, the MR image becomes severely distorted. Since our developed system works with light, the magnetic field of the MR device is not affected and the images are not distorted."

"Doctors will no longer need to specialize in biopsies"

Prof. Dr. Şenol Mutlu, stating that the biopsy method currently used can only be performed by doctors with years of manual experience, points out that this will not be necessary with a remotely controlled robotic system: "Normally, doctors try to obtain images with an ultrasound probe, and because they take tissue samples with a needle fired like a gun, manual dexterity is very important. However, doctors without manual dexterity can also use a system that is automated to be compatible with MR devices by looking at the three-dimensional images of the MR device. Adding that the work on developing wireless and battery-free actuators was funded by the Max Planck Society for one year and that he worked with Prof. Dr. Metin Sitti, Mutlu states that in his new project to be funded by BAP, he will develop a three-dimensional positioner that can be used on patients. For the prototype actuator to be transformed into a commercial product and to begin use by doctors, significant investment and tests that could take up to 10 years are required.