Recent Progress in Magnetically Actuated Microrobotics for Ophthalmic Therapies

Abstract

Age-related visual loss and ageing demographics account for a large impact on societal health costs on a global scale. Efficient ocular surgery must be precise, safe and cost effective. Current research focuses on robotic systems to assist in ophthalmic surgery. Furthermore, several platforms for drug delivery in the posterior segment of the eye have been introduced. Moreover, magnetic manipulation of tethered and untethered structures has been suggested to assist in teleoperated ophthalmic surgery and targeted drug delivery in the posterior eye due to its many advantages. Magnetic manipulation systems generate magnetic fields and gradients to guide magnetic objects with high precision and force feedback. A hybrid actuation system for guiding a flexible catheter with a sharp edge magnetic tip has been introduced for capsulorhexis – a major step in cataract surgery. Research has demonstrated the potential of wireless magnetic microrobots for targeted drug delivery and simple mechanical operations in the posterior eye segment in ex vivo and in vivo experiments.