Tools and methods for biomedical surgery

Abstract

A tool for biomedical surgery comprises an elongate tube-like structure which is insertable into a body lumen, a surgical tool, arranged on the elongate tube-like structure, and a layered polymer microactuator, arranged in or on the elongate tube-like structure, for inducing geometrical changes or movements to the surgical tool via an electrochemically induced change of volume of the layered polymer microactuator. The layered polymer microactuator is arranged for external electrical actuation.

1 . A device for biomedical surgery, comprising: 
 an elongate tube-like structure which is insertable into a body lumen,    a surgical tool, arranged on the elongate tube-like structure, and    a layered polymer microactuator, arranged in or on the elongate tube-like structure, for inducing geometrical changes or movements to the surgical tool via an electrochemically induced change of volume of the polymer microactuator,    the layered polymer microactuator being arranged for external electrical actuation.    
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a guide-wire is insertable into the elongate tube-like structure.  
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layered polymer microactuator comprises a bi-layered polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layered polymer microactuator comprises at least one non-polymer layer.  
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layered polymer microactuator comprises a conjugated polymer layer.  
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the conjugated polymer layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, aniline, thiophene, para-phenylene, vinylene, and phenylene polymers and copolymers, including substituted forms of the different monomers.  
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the layered polymer microactuator comprises at least two layers, where an electrically activated volume change of said at least one conjugated polymer layer is arranged to cause a bending of said layered polymer actuator.  
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surgical tool is selected from a group consisting of a knife, a needle, a dilator, a forceps, a scissors, a tweezers, a clamp, a clip, a stent, a connector, a graft, a nerve connector, and an insertion device.  
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the surgical tool is an insertion device for making a temporary permanent hole through a membrane, the insertion device comprising a central member and a number of anchoring members, which are bendable between an insertion position, wherein the insertion device is insertable through a hole in the membrane, and an anchoring position, wherein the anchoring members are in fixating engagement with the membrane.  
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surgical tool is releasable from the tube-like structure.  
     
     
         11 . A tool array comprising a device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a number of identical surgical tools are arranged as an array extending on the carrier or tube-like structure, and wherein the actuation of a surgical tool closest to the exit of the tube-like structure is arranged to release the surgical tool from the array and to leave it at the point of exit of the tube-like structure in order to mount the surgical tool at or in a biological structure.  
     
     
         12 . The tool array as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a number of identical tools are located on the array extending along the tube-like structure, and where each tool is individually actuatable.  
     
     
         13 . The tool array as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a number of identical tools are located on the array extending along the tube-like structure, and said tools are simultaneously actuatable.  
     
     
         14 . A tool array comprising a device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a number of non-identical surgical tools are arranged as an array extending along a length of the carrier or tube-like structure, and wherein said tools are individually actuatable, and wherein the actuation of a surgical tool closest to the exit of the tube-like structure is arranged to release the surgical tool from the array and to leave it at the point of exit of the tube-like structure in order to mount the surgical tool at or in a biological structure.  
     
     
         15 . A device for biomedical surgery, comprising: 
 an elongate tube-like structure, which is insertable into a body lumen,    a carrier which is insertable into the elongate tube-like structure,    a surgical tool, arranged on the carrier, and    a polymer microactuator, arranged in or on the carrier, for inducing geometrical changes or movements to the surgical tool via an electrochemically induced change of volume of the polymer microactuator,    the polymer microactuator being arranged for external electrical actuation.    
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the polymer microactuator comprises a conjugated polymer.  
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the conjugated polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, aniline, thiophene, para-phenylene, vinylene, and phenylene polymers and copolymers, including substituted forms of the different monomers.  
     
     
         18 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the polymer microactuator is a layered polymer microactuator.  
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the polymer microactuator comprises at least two layers, where an electrically activated volume change of said at least one conjugated polymer layer is arranged to cause a bending of said layered polymer actuator.  
     
     
         20 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the surgical tool is selected from a group consisting of a knife, a needle, a dilator, a forceps, a scissors, a tweezers, a clamp, a clip, a stent, a connector, a graft, a nerve connector, and an insertion device.  
     
     
         21 . The device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the surgical tool is an insertion device for making a temporary permanent hole through a membrane, the insertion device comprising a central member and a number of anchoring members, which are bendable between an insertion position, wherein the insertion device is insertable through a hole in the membrane, and an anchoring position, wherein the anchoring members are in fixating engagement with the membrane.  
     
     
         22 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the surgical tool is releasable from the tube-like structure.  
     
     
         23 . A tool array comprising a device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a number of identical surgical tools are arranged as an array extending on the carrier or tube-like structure, and wherein the actuation of a surgical tool closest to the exit of the tube-like structure is arranged to release the surgical tool from the array and is to leave it at the point of exit of the tube-like structure in order to mount the surgical tool at or in a biological structure.  
     
     
         24 . The tool array as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein a number of identical tools are located on the array extending along the tube-like structure, and where said tools are individually actuatable.  
     
     
         25 . The tool array as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein a number of identical tools are located on the array extending along the tube-like structure, and where said tools are simultaneously actuatable.  
     
     
         26 . A tool array comprising a device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a number of non-identical surgical tools are arranged as an array extending along a length of the carrier or tube-like structure, and wherein said tools are individually actuatable, and wherein the actuation of a surgical tool closest to the exit of the tube-like structure is arranged to release the surgical tool from the array and to leave it at the point of exit of the tube-like structure in order to mount the surgical tool at or in a biological structure.  
     
     
         27 . A method of biomedical surgery, comprising steps of: 
 inserting an elongate tube-like structure comprising a surgical tool arranged thereon, into a body lumen;    the elongate tube-like structure having a layered polymer microactuator, arranged in or on the elongate tube-like structure, for inducing geometrical changes or movements to the surgical tool via an electrochemically induced change of volume of the polymer microactuator;    and supplying an electrical charge for electrical actuation of the polymer microactuator,    whereby said geometrical changes or movements cause the tool to act upon a biological structure in said body lumen.    
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said geometrical changes or movements are cause the surgical tool to perform an activity selected from a group consisting of positioning a stucture, holding a structure, cutting a structure, dilating a structure, fortifying a structure and implanting a structure.  
     
     
         29 . A method of biomedical surgery, comprising steps of: 
 inserting an elongate tube-like structure into a body lumen;    inserting a carrier with a surgical tool arranged thereon, into said tube-like structure,    the carrier having a polymer microactuator, arranged in or on the carrier, for inducing geometrical changes or movements to the surgical tool via an electrochemically induced change of volume of the polymer microactuator; and    supplying an electrical charge for electrical actuation of the polymer microactuator,    whereby said geometrical changes or movements cause the tool to act upon a biological structure in said body lumen.    
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said geometrical changes or movements cause the surgical tool to perform an activity selected from a group consisting of positioning a stucture, holding a structure, cutting a structure, dilating a structure, fortifying a structure and implanting a structure.