Highly resolved strain imaging during needle insertion: Results with a novel biologically inspired device.
Percutaneous needle insertions are a common part of minimally invasive surgery. However, the insertion process is necessarily disruptive to the substrate. Negative side effects are migration of deep-seated targets and trauma to the surrounding material. Mitigation of these effects is highly desirable, but relies on a detailed understanding of the needle-tissue interactions, which are difficult to capture at a sufficiently high resolution. Here, an adapted Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique is used to quantify mechanical behaviour at the sliding interface, with resolution of measurement points which is better than 0.5mm, representing a marked improvement over the state of the art. A method for converting the Eulerian description of DIC output to Lagrangian displacements and strains is presented and the method is validated during the simple insertion of a symmetrical needle into a gelatine tissue phantom. The needle is comprised of four axially interlocked quadrants, each with a bevel tip. Tests are performed where the segments are inserted into the phantom simultaneously, or in a cyclic sequence taking inspiration from the unique insertion strategy associated to the ovipositor of certain wasps. Data from around the needle-tissue interface includes local strain variations, material dragged along the needle surface and relaxation of the phantom, which show that the cyclic actuation of individual needle segments is potentially able to mitigate tissue strain and could be used to reduce target migration.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW72AZ, United Kingdom.
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MJ
Oldfield
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW72AZ, United Kingdom.
C
C
Burrows
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW72AZ, United Kingdom.
J
J
Kerl
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW72AZ, United Kingdom.
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L
Frasson
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW72AZ, United Kingdom.
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T
Parittotokkaporn
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW72AZ, United Kingdom.
F
F
Beyrau
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW72AZ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: f.rodriguez@imperial.ac.uk.
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F
Rodriguez y Baena
D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005780:Gelatin; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009038:Motion; D009339:Needles; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D005780:Gelatin
Digital image correlation; Displacement; Gelatin; High resolution; Needle insertion; Strain