Robotic system with multiplex power transmission for MRI-guided percutaneous interventions

In minimally invasive prostate percutaneous interventions, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compatible robotic assistive systems developed over the years tend to have multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) to accomplish complex surgical tasks. This paper presents a novel design of an MRI-compatible transmission that allows one driving motor to control a multiplexed DOF robot system. The transmission could reduce the number of motors in the system, while maintaining the functionality of the system, by controlling each motion sequentially rather than simultaneously. A series of preliminary experiments as well as a targeting accuracy test are conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the system.