Ex vivo study of prostate cancer localization using rolling mechanical imaging towards minimally invasive surgery.

Rolling mechanical imaging (RMI) is a novel technique towards the detection and quantification of malignant tissue in locations that are inaccessible to palpation during robotic minimally invasive surgery (MIS); the approach is shown to achieve results of higher precision than is possible using the human hand. Using a passive robotic manipulator, a lightweight and force sensitive wheeled probe is driven across the surface of tissue samples to collect continuous measurements of wheel-tissue dynamics. A color-coded map is then generated to visualize the stiffness distribution within the internal tissue structure.

Three-Degree-of-Freedom MR-Compatible Multisegment Cardiac Catheter Steering Mechanism.

This paper presents a novel MR-compatible 3-DOF cardiac catheter steering mechanism. The catheter's steerable structure is tendon driven and consists of miniature deflectable, helical segments created by a precise rapid prototyping technique. The created catheter prototype has an outer diameter of 9 Fr (3 mm) and a steerable distal end that can be deflected in a 3-D space via four braided high-tensile Spectra fiber tendons.

Using visual cues to enhance haptic feedback for palpation on virtual model of soft tissue.

This paper explores methods that make use of visual cues aimed at generating actual haptic sensation to the user, namely pseudo-haptics. We propose a new pseudo-haptic feedback-based method capable of conveying 3D haptic information and combining visual haptics with force feedback to enhance the user's haptic experience. We focused on an application related to tumor identification during palpation and evaluated the proposed method in an experimental study where users interacted with a haptic device and graphical interface while exploring a virtual model of soft tissue, which represented stiffness distribution of a silicone phantom tissue with embedded hard inclusions.

Intra-operative tumour localisation in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery: A review.

Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery has many advantages compared to conventional open surgery and also certain drawbacks: it causes less operative trauma and faster recovery times but does not allow for direct tumour palpation as is the case in open surgery. This article reviews state-of-the-art intra-operative tumour localisation methods used in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery and in particular methods that employ force-based sensing, tactile-based sensing, and medical imaging techniques. The limitations and challenges of these methods are discussed and future research directions are proposed.

Inverse finite-element modeling for tissue parameter identification using a rolling indentation probe.

This paper investigates the use of inverse finite-element modeling (IFEM)-based methods for tissue parameter identification using a rolling indentation probe for surgical palpation. An IFEM-based algorithm is proposed for tissue parameter identification through uniaxial indentation. IFEM-based algorithms are also created for locating and identifying the properties of an embedded tumor through rolling indentation of the soft tissue.

Air-float palpation probe for tissue abnormality identification during minimally invasive surgery.

This paper presents a novel palpation probe based on optical fiber technology. It is designed to measure stiffness distribution of a soft tissue while sliding over the tissue surface in a near frictionless manner. A novelty of the probe is its ability to measure indentation depth for nonplanar tissue profiles which are commonly experienced during surgery.

A stiffness probe based on force and vision sensing for soft tissue diagnosis.

this paper introduces a novel approach of stiffness measurement based on force and vision sensing for tissue diagnosis. The developed probe is mainly composed of a force sensor and an image acquisition unit capable of obtaining contact area of probe-soft tissue interaction. By measuring the change of diameter of contact area during indentation test, the indentation depth can be determined.

Finite-element modeling of soft tissue rolling indentation.

We describe a finite-element (FE) model for simulating wheel-rolling tissue deformations using a rolling FE model (RFEM). A wheeled probe performing rolling tissue indentation has proven to be a promising approach for compensating for the loss of haptic and tactile feedback experienced during robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery (H. Liu, D.

MRI-compatible intensity-modulated force sensor for cardiac catheterization procedures.

This paper presents a novel, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible, force sensor suitable for cardiac catheterization procedures. The miniature, fiber-optic sensor is integrated with the tip of a catheter to allow the detection of interaction forces with the cardiac walls. The optical fiber light intensity is modulated when a force acting at the catheter tip deforms an elastic element, which, in turn, varies the distance between a reflector and the optical fiber.

Rolling mechanical imaging for tissue abnormality localization during minimally invasive surgery.

We describe a novel approach for the localization of tissue abnormalities during minimally invasive surgery using a force-sensitive wheeled probe. The concept is to fuse the kinaesthetic information from the wheel-tissue rolling interaction into a pseudocolor rolling mechanical image (RMI) to visualize the spatial variation of stiffness within the internal tissue structure. Since tissue abnormalities are often firmer than the surrounding organ or parenchyma, a surgeon then can localize abnormalities by analyzing the image.

Wheel/tissue force interaction: a new concept for soft tissue diagnosis during MIS.

This paper describes a feasibility study of a novel force sensor that can be used to localise tissue abnormalities and provide tactile feedback to the surgeon during minimally invasive surgery. The proposed sensor makes use of an air-supported rigid ball mounted at the end of a tubular shaft to indent the tissue under investigation. Variations in tissue stiffness which cause changes in position of the ball are measured by using an optical sensing scheme.

Stability analysis of interval type-2 fuzzy-model-based control systems.

This paper presents the stability analysis of interval type-2 fuzzy-model-based (FMB) control systems. To investigate the system stability, an interval type-2 Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model, which can be regarded as a collection of a number of type-1 T-S fuzzy models, is proposed to represent the nonlinear plant subject to parameter uncertainties. With the lower and upper membership functions, the parameter uncertainties can be effectively captured.

BMI-based stability and performance design for fuzzy-model-based control systems subject to parameter uncertainties.

This paper presents the stability and performance design of a fuzzy-model-based control system subject to parameter uncertainties. A nonlinear controller with a favorable characteristic to relax the stability conditions is proposed to drive the system states of the nonlinear plant to follow those of a stable reference model. Stability and performance conditions in terms of bilinear matrix inequalities (BMIs) will be derived based on a Lyapunov-based approach.

Stability analysis of a three-term backpropagation algorithm.

Efficient learning by the backpropagation (BP) algorithm is required for many practical applications. The BP algorithm calculates the weight changes of artificial neural networks, and a common approach is to use a two-term algorithm consisting of a learning rate (LR) and a momentum factor (MF). The major drawbacks of the two-term BP learning algorithm are the problems of local minima and slow convergence speeds, which limit the scope for real-time applications.