Design of Micro Tactile Sensor for Detecting Soft Tissue Stiffness

In conventional open surgeries, which is the first-generation technique, a large incision is conducted in the human body which allows surgeons to be in direct contact with tissues and organs. Although this type of surgery allows surgeons to have a wide range of movements and assesses tissue through direct palpation, the corresponding trauma healing represents a limitation of this technique. Complications of such surgeries may cause extended postoperative stay in the hospital, increasing cost and patient pain. By the 1980s, the progression of technology gave surgeons the ability to perform surgeries using small medical equipment, without being in direct contact with patients. Comparing MIS with conventional surgical techniques, MIS have significant merits for patients. MIS produce small wounds which decrease trauma, alleviating pain, less bleeding, less effect on the immune system, a short stay in the hospital, fast recovery, and cosmetic advantages. However, surgeons do not have access to tactile information as in open surgeries. Therefore, the need for tactile sensors became indispensable. In this book, a new micro tactile sensor is designed for soft tissue stiffness detection.