Waterjet Steerable Needles on WSU Insider
A new article by the title “Cutting-edge needles promise more accuracy in medical procedures” featuring our research on Fracture-directed Waterjet Steerable Needles is published on WSU Insider.
Fracture-directed Steerable needles is a new class of steerable needles that is first introduced by Dr. John P. Swensen, in which the direction of the tissue fracture is controlled by high velocity waterjet and then the flexible needle made of Nitinol follows. This process continues until the needle reaches to the desired place in the soft tissue.
The direction of the tissue fracture is controlled by the angled nozzle, and different bendings are also possible by rotating the nozzle inside the tissue. We are now at a place that proved that this technique is working.
Current research is on improving the nozzle of the waterjet, and controlling the steerable needle. Graduate Students Mahdieh Babaiasl and Fan Yang are contributing to this project.
Cutting-edge needles promise more accuracy in medical procedures