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pp. 6401-6414
S&M4687 Research Paper https://doi.org/10.18494/SAM6528 Published: November 5, 2026 Development of Bendable Ultrasonic Scalpel with Grasping Mechanism Using Superelastic Alloy Active Blade [PDF] Daisuke Haraguchi and Ryoga Ono (Received July 14, 2026; Accepted August 25, 2026) Keywords: ultrasonic scalpel, flexible joint, superelastic alloy, grasping mechanism, robotic surgical instrument
In this study, we developed a multi-degree-of-freedom (multi-DOF) ultrasonic scalpel equipped with a superelastic alloy (NiTi) active blade that enables both tip bending and grasping motions. The active blade features a strip-shaped localized flexible section to facilitate compact bending, while a multistage hinge-based wire-driven mechanism achieves a bending range of ±60°. A blade-straddling single-moving-jaw grasping mechanism was also incorporated to provide grasping capability within the limited 8 mm outer diameter without interfering with the centrally routed active blade. The ultrasonic transducer can be easily detached from the active blade and replaced. A prototype device was fabricated on the basis of an active-blade design obtained by estimating the blade’s ultrasonic resonance using the finite element method, and its fundamental performance was evaluated through excitation experiments and noncontact 3D vibration measurements. In the straight, unloaded posture, the active blade exhibited a resonant frequency of 57.5 kHz and a transducer current of 528 mA at a driving voltage of 25 V. Stable ultrasonic resonance was maintained even in the bent state; however, vibration amplitude attenuation and durability issues were identified as major challenges. In cauterization experiments using an edible porcine meat sample, the grasping mechanism enabled effective wide-area cauterization in the straight posture, whereas sufficient cauterization was not achieved when the tip was bent.
Corresponding author: Daisuke Haraguchi![]() ![]() This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Cite this article Daisuke Haraguchi and Ryoga Ono, Development of Bendable Ultrasonic Scalpel with Grasping Mechanism Using Superelastic Alloy Active Blade, Sens. Mater., Vol. 38, No. 11, 2026, p. 6401-6414. |