Piezoelectrical steerable micro-guidewire with real-time force sensing for minimally invasive vascular therapy - stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability, and many current…

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering awarded The Trustees Of The Stevens Institute Of Technology $185,998 on September 1, 2026, under the Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health program (CFDA 93.286) to develop a steerable micro-guidewire powered by piezoelectric actuation for minimally invasive stroke treatment.

The project develops a novel guidewire incorporating a piezoelectric helical actuator capable of active steering and real-time force sensing during navigation through cerebral vasculature. Current guidewires lack precise directional control and provide no real-time feedback on contact forces, increasing vessel injury risk during stroke interventions. The research integrates finite element modeling, microfabrication using lead-free barium titanate thin films, and experimental validation. Prototypes will be characterized for mechanical flexibility, electrical performance, and electromechanical coupling, then evaluated in benchtop and in vitro vascular models to demonstrate improved navigation precision, safety, and contact force feedback. The work aims to reduce complications and recovery time in minimally invasive cerebrovascular treatments while advancing fundamental understanding of micro-scale force sensing applicable to soft robotic medical devices.

Performance occurs in Hoboken, New Jersey. The award period runs through May 31, 2029. This is a Project Grant assistance type under NIBIB's biomedical imaging and bioengineering research portfolio.

Piezoelectrical steerable micro-guidewire with real-time force sensing for minimally invasive vascular therapy - stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability, and many current treatments depend on navigating tiny blood vessels deep within the brain using guidewires and catheters. Existing guidewires are either passive or, in newer designs, magnetically controlled, but both lack precise directional control and provide no real-time feedback on contact forces, increasing the risk of vessel injury and limiting navigation accuracy. This project develops a steerable micro-guidewire powered by a novel piezoelectric helical actuator capable of both active steering and real-time force sensing during navigation for minimally invasive stroke treatments. The research integrates modeling, microfabrication, and experimental validation to realize this goal. Lead-free barium titanate (batio₃) thin films will serve as the piezoelectric material enabling dual-mode actuation and sensing. Finite element simulations will optimize the guidewire geometry for directional control under challenging vascular conditions. Prototypes will be microfabricated and characterized to evaluate mechanical flexibility, electrical performance, and electromechanical coupling. Finally, benchtop and in vitro vascular models will be used to demonstrate improved navigation precision, safety, and real-time contact force feedback. By enabling safer and more precise minimally invasive interventions for stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases, this technology has the potential to reduce complications, shorten recovery time, and improve overall patient outcomes. The project will also advance fundamental understanding of micro-scale force sensing and control, contributing to the next generation of soft robotic medical devices.