This project aims to develop and demonstrate a novel system that combines a portable bulk superconducting magnet with robotic manipulation to enable high-precision, targeted magnetic fields for medical interventions using magnetic catheters and magnetic microrobots.
The key objectives are:
1. To design and build a compact mounting and interface system for attaching the bulk superconducting magnet to a robotic arm.
2. To integrate magnetization hardware and assess system performance under clinical constraints.
3. To evaluate the magnetic field workspace achievable through robotic actuation at clinically relevant positions. This will involve state-of-the-art numerical simulations using finite-element modelling in COMSOL Multiphysics, as well as proof-of-concept magnetization experiments.
4. To explore proof-of-concept applications such as magnetic drug targeting and catheter steering, guided by clinical use cases.
5. To assess safety, control, and usability requirements for future clinical translation.
This work will demonstrate the feasibility of robot-controlled bulk superconducting magnets for advanced, minimally invasive procedures.
