Generation of magnetic propulsion force using wireless power transfer coil

A micro-robot is a promising device for minimally invasive surgery or drug delivery inside of the body for medical purpose. Due to its small size, the micro robot should float in the blood vessel to destination. Therefore, the propulsion mechanism of micro-robot have become an active area of study these days [1][2]. Recent studies of the propulsion of these robots have focused on the insertion of permanent magnets with Helmholtz coil which can generate magnetic field for propulsion of the micro-robot. However, this type of propulsion system has limited in that the DC magnetic field delivers propulsion but does not deliver any electric power to the robot [3]. Inevitably, the micro-robot only perform limited mission-like drilling and moving without any electric power sources [4]. If propulsion and power can be delivered to the micro-robot at the same time, the robot can contain active devices and can thus perform much more complex and important medical missions.