Haas story: surgical forceps that will be perceived

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring is a necessary monitoring process during neurological surgery. MRI offers the possibility of internal body observation, but this technique has a non-negligible disadvantage: magnetic resonance images cannot transmit real-time images. Therefore, Dr. Garnette Sutherland, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Calgary and director of the MRI Institute, decided to lead the team to improve a precision-operated robot (the NeroArm workspace) that can be placed inside the MRI machine for real-time surgery. Monitor and feedback images.

Dr. Garnette Sutherland said: "Many people are currently working on the same project, either for better surgery or for providing advanced teaching materials." A surgical real-life simulator with replay function can bring surgery Innovative surgery, although many robotic systems have been improved, most of them remain at the level of relying solely on imaging to guide the surgical process. “To train a qualified neurosurgeon, real contact is necessary, and when you perform surgery on your patients, using equipment is a top priority.” Dr. Sutherland went on to say, “The surgical forceps system includes: a pair to measure strength. The electronic squeeze force sensor, the motion meter to provide progress indication, and a micro accelerometer that monitors the speed. The design of the surgical forceps does not need to be small, but it must be very strong and lightweight." NeroArm fits exactly The above requirements.

The University of Calgary is not just a medical school or a technical institute, but a comprehensive university. The school has important medical research projects and focuses on health research, so it is well known in medical research and education, especially in the field of neuroscience. In order to provide a better teaching environment, the school actively supports the use of modern equipment. Currently, there are a series of Haas machine tools in the school's processing workshop, including a VF-6 with 40TR trunnion turntable and 5-axis capability; one HL- 20 lathes and a super mini milling. With the help of professional engineer Pete Rizun, mechanical engineering graduate Brian Cox decided to use Haas machine tools to process an aluminum alloy billet into a surgical forceps shell, minimizing the quality while maintaining its stiffness.

“We used the 4-axis function of Haas Super Mini Milling to machine the four complex surfaces of the surgical forceps after simple clamping. First we cut out a slot to place the board, then rotate the workpiece 180° to the other side. Cutting, by the end we cut about 90% of the material," Rizun told us.

As the cutting progressed, they found a problem that the workpiece was too light and the processing was extremely difficult. “The workpieces are getting lighter,” recalls Rizun. “The vibration of the workpiece is getting more and more serious, and the surface machining around the groove is very difficult.”

The engineer's advice brought us the gospel, and Rizun explained: “Before the other side of the rotating workpiece was machined, we filled the grooving with wax, which added weight and hardness to the surgical forceps, and the vibration was greatly reduced. Finally The finishing process was successfully completed."

“This workshop is visited every day,” Rizhun said. “The engineers here learned how to draw sketches and learned how to operate the machine. At the same time, the workshop also facilitated many researchers.”

Now, this workshop has become an indispensable part of the school. In addition to learning to actually design and process parts, students also inspired. More importantly, the MRI Institute has acquired new machine tools from Haas, which are likely to bring about new changes in neurosurgery.

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