Development of a flexible robot, flexible instruments, and autonomy for cataract surgery

Cataract relates to the opacification of the intraocular lens of the eye, leading to cloudy vision and loss of sight. Surgical treatment of cataract entails tiny incisions in the eye, the rupture of the capsule that holds the intraocular lens, the aspiration of the lens, and its substitution with a polymer-based implant. The number of patients requiring cataract treatment yearly, globally, accounts for several millions. However, lack of equitable access to skilled surgeon implies long waiting times and suboptimal outcomes. The project leverages flexible robot technology developed in the Robotics and Vision in Medicine lab to create a snake-like cataract surgery robot. The flexible nature of the robot, however, necessitates innovation in flexible instrument design, so that the fundamental processes required in cataract surgery can be achieved. Thus, the primary aim of the project is to investigate micromanufacturing techniques that allow the manipulation, dissection, and aspiration of tissue through tiny hollow flexible instruments.