Magnetic Actuator Works in Your Body¡

—For Low Invasive Surgery—

Abstract

Magnetic systems possess superior characteristics for driving micro-machines. The micro- machine can work without power supply cables by applying an external magnetic field. This principle makes it possible to obtain “wireless micro-machines.” There are two basic principles for driving the magnetic micro-machine: the creation of force by the gradient of a magnetic field and the generation of magnetic torque in a uniform magnetic field. In accordance with these principles, the use of magnetic micro-machines for medical applications has been investigated. In this paper, the applications of the magnetic micro-machines for medical purposes such as EMR (endoscopic mucosal resection) and colonoscope navigation are reviewed.