Micro catheter system with active guide wire-structure, experimental results and characteristic evaluation of active guide wire catheter using ICPF actuator

We propose a prototype model of micro catheter with active guide wire which has two bending degrees of freedom. The design and fabrication methods of these micro active catheters (MAC) are described. Prototype models are 3Fr, 4Fr, 6Fr (1Fr=1/3 mm) in diameter and consist of catheter tube and active guide wire with ICPF actuator (Ionic Conducting Polymer Film Actuator) on its front end as the servo actuator. The bending motions and bending angle of the MAC have been measured by application of electricity in physiological saline solution using laser displacement sensors. We also modeled this MAC for characteristic evaluation. Experimental results show that the model of the active catheter is reasonable for practical applications. By using simulators (whose conditions are similar to those of a body cavity), we also carried out simulation experiments “in vitro”. The experimental results indicate that the proposed micro catheter with active guide wire is applicable to intracavity operations