Engineering School Innovations: MRI-compatible Robot

The video shows control of the rotation and translation of the needle placement robot inside MRI. While this is being done, we can visualize (in real-time -- 2.5Hz) the needle insertion trajectory inside the gelatin phantom, which is similar to the interior of human body. For safety issues, we can also use the in-build video camera to see the exterior of the phantom. This is the first time we have been able to control the piezoelectrically actuated robot with minimal image artifact thanks to our custom-developed piezoelectric motor driver and the iglide plastic bushings and drylin linear guide system from igus. This video helps prove our concept that we can use this robot to perform intra-operative needle placement surgery (biopsy and brachytherapy) with real-time MRI image guidance.