可吞服的折纸机器人胶囊,实现无创胃肠道活检。
Bioinspired Kirigami Capsule Robot for Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Biopsy
- 用折纸结构设计可展开的薄膜瓣,通过双凸轮驱动实现可控穿刺。
- 活体实验显示平均取样量达10.9毫克(胃)和18.9毫克(肠),深度约0.61毫米。
- 适合需精准、安全活检的胃肠疾病筛查人群,尤其关注微创诊断者。
无线胶囊内镜(WCE)已革新胃肠道(GI)诊断,实现无创成像,但其诊断率受限于无法取样,而组织病理学仍是确诊金标准。传统活检工具如钳子、针头或旋转刀具侵入性强、可达范围有限,存在穿孔或黏膜损伤风险;而仅采样液体或微生物的胶囊无法提供结构化组织,缺乏病理分析基础。本文提出一种受折纸启发的胶囊机器人Kiri-Capsule,集成由微型双凸轮机构驱动的聚酰亚胺(PI)薄膜瓣,可在运动时保持平坦,伸展后转化为锐利突起,实现可控穿刺与旋转刮取,样本保存于内部扇形腔中。台架测试表明,PI薄膜弹性模量约20 MPa,15%应变下部署角稳定在约34°;离体猪胃肠道研究显示,平均穿刺深度为0.61毫米(范围0.46–0.66毫米),取样量分别为胃部约10.9毫克、肠部约18.9毫克,且受力在胃肠活检安全范围内。结果证明,Kiri-Capsule实现了从被动成像到功能活检的跨越,提供可吞服、深度可控、适配病理的解决方案,推动胶囊诊断向安全有效的临床应用迈进。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has transformed gastrointestinal (GI) diagnostics by enabling noninvasive visualization of the digestive tract, yet its diagnostic yield remains constrained by the absence of biopsy capability, as histological analysis is still the gold standard for confirming disease. Conventional biopsy using forceps, needles, or rotating blades is invasive, limited in reach, and carries risks of perforation or mucosal trauma, while fluid- or microbiota-sampling capsules cannot provide structured tissue for pathology, leaving a critical gap in swallowable biopsy solutions. Here we present the Kiri-Capsule, a kirigami-inspired capsule robot that integrates deployable PI-film flaps actuated by a compact dual-cam mechanism to achieve minimally invasive and repeatable tissue collection. The kirigami surface remains flat during locomotion but transforms into sharp protrusions upon cam-driven stretching, enabling controlled penetration followed by rotary scraping, with specimens retained in internal fan-shaped cavities. Bench tests confirmed that PI films exhibit a Young's modulus of approximately 20 MPa and stable deployment angles (about 34$^\circ$ at 15% strain), while ex vivo porcine studies demonstrated shallow penetration depths (median $\sim$0.61 mm, range 0.46--0.66 mm) and biopsy yields comparable to standard forceps (mean $\sim$10.9 mg for stomach and $\sim$18.9 mg for intestine), with forces within safe ranges reported for GI biopsy. These findings demonstrate that the Kiri-Capsule bridges passive imaging and functional biopsy, providing a swallowable, depth-controlled, and histology-ready solution that advances capsule-based diagnostics toward safe and effective clinical application.
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