Second-Generation Hand-Held Force Magnifier for Surgical Instruments

We have developed a novel and relatively simple method for magnifying forces perceived by an operator using a surgical tool. A sensor measures force between the tip of a tool and its handle, and a proportionally greater force is created by an actuator between the handle and a brace attached to the operator’s hand, providing an enhanced perception of forces at the tip of the tool. Magnifying forces in this manner may provide an improved ability to perform delicate surgical procedures. The device is completely hand-held and can thus be easily manipulated to a wide variety of locations and orientations. We have previously developed a prototype capable of amplifying forces only in the push direction, and which had a number of other limiting factors. We now present a second-generation device, capable of both push and pull, and describe some of the engineering concerns in its design and our future directions.