A magnetorheological fluid as a haptic display to replicate perceived biological tissues compliance

Presents an innovative application of magnetorheological fluids. These materials are a suspension a micron-sized, magnetizable particles in synthetic oil. Exposure to an external magnetic field induces in the fluid a modification in rheological behaviour changing it into a near-solid in few milliseconds. Just as quickly, the fluid can be returned to its liquid state with the removal of the field. MR fluids are already present on the market, used in devices such as valves, brakes, clutches, dampers. The authors report here about the possibility to use MR fluids to mimic the compressional compliance of biological tissues in order to realize a haptic display for surgical training in minimally invasive surgery applications.