Flexible Medical Devices: Review of Controllable Stiffness Solutions

• Published in: Actuators Vol. 6; no. 3; p. 23
• Main Authors: Blanc, Loïc, Delchambre, Alain, Lambert, Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2017
• Subjects: controllable stiffness; Elastic properties; flexible medical devices; flexural stiffness; Mechanical properties; Medical devices; Medical equipment; Rigid structures; shape-locking; Smart structures; Stiffness

In the medical field and in soft robotics, flexible devices are required for safe human interaction, while rigid structures are required to withstand the force application and accuracy in motion. This paper aims at presenting controllable stiffness mechanisms described in the literature for applicat...