MODULE FOR DRIVING ELONGATE FLEXIBLE MEDICAL ORGANS

摘要

A module (16) for driving an elongate flexible medical organ (15, 15', 15'') comprises a base (13) and at least one actuator (26, 34, 60) comprising a drive surface (25, 35, 66). The actuator (26, 34, 60) can be placed in a driving configuration in which said drive surface (25, 35, 66) of said actuator (26, 34, 60) is in engagement with the elongate flexible medical organ (15, 15', 15'') to be driven. The actuator additionally comprises a surface rigidly connected to the base (13) and serving as a fixed reference (27). The drive surface (25, 35, 60) of said actuator (26, 34, 60) is movable with respect to the base (13). The drive module additionally comprises a control member (11) suitable for controlling a movement with respect to the base (13) of the drive surface (25, 35, 60) of said actuator (26, 34, 60) in the driving configuration, thereby driving the elongate flexible medical organ (15, 15', 15'') with respect to the base (13). The actuator (26, 34, 60) is formed by at least one stack (e) of elements (30), said elements (30) being able to deform under the application of an electric field.