Micro force sensor for intravascular neurosurgery

Minimum invasive surgery using intravascular surgical tools is getting greater attention in the medical field. This technique allows us to reduce physical pain for patients. For example, a catheter is one of the medical tools for endovascular surgeries. The catheter is frequently used for neurosurgical operations. We propose a new type of force sensor for intravascular neurosurgery. This micro force sensor can be installed on the tip of the catheter. We developed a prototype micro force sensor whose diameter is 1.6 mm and length is 12 mm. Using this micro force sensor, we can measure the contact force between the catheter and blood vessels. It is possible to push the blood vessel wall hard when operators use the catheter. So, to express the contact force between catheter and blood vessels is very important for safe operation. In this paper, we show the structure of the micro force sensor and its characteristics