Multi-axis robotic forceps with decoupled pneumatic actuation and force sensing for cochlear implantation

Delicate manual microsurgeries rely on sufficient hands-on experience for safe manipulations. Automated surgical devices can enhance the effectiveness, but developing high-resolution, multi-axis force-sensing devices for micro operations remains challenging. In this study, a 6-axis force-sensing pneumatic forceps with a serial-parallel robotic platform for cochlear implantation is developed. The forceps features a curved body shape embedded with parallel and inclined fiber Bragg grating sensors for 6-axis force sensing, and a pneumatic gripper with decoupled actuation is located at its end for actively grasping and releasing the electrode array. The robotic platform comprises a customized spherical parallel mechanism and a robotic arm, which can provide independent 3-DOF rotations and 3-DOF translations. The feasibility of the developed robotic forceps is validated through cadaveric studies on a temporal bone and a human cadaveric head. In summary, the robotic forceps provides a decoupled mechanism for pneumatic actuation and force sensing, further demonstrating its potential for force interaction and stable operation during robotic microsurgery. Cochlear implantation requires highly accurate multi-axis force sensing in the constrained operating environment. Here, the authors present a multi-axis pneumatic forceps capable of independent rotations and translations, enhancing operation precision and stability during robotic microsurgery.