Can a Tesla Turbine be Utilised as a Non-Magnetic Actuator for MRI-Guided Robotic Interventions?

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel nonmagnetic Tesla turbine-based pneumatic motor suitable for MRI-guided robotic interventions, enabling operation during continuous MRI imaging without causing artifacts.

Contribution

The study introduces a new MRI-compatible pneumatic rotary motor based on the Tesla turbine, capable of functioning during MRI scans, which is a significant advancement over existing MRI-safe actuators.

Findings

Motor performs effectively inside MRI scanner

Magnetic properties are suitable for MRI environments

Feasibility confirmed for MRI-guided robotic use

Abstract

This paper introduces a new type of nonmagnetic actuator for MRI interventions. Ultrasonic and piezoelectric motors are one the most commonly used actuators in MRI applications. However, most of these actuators are only MRI-safe, which means they cannot be operated while imaging as they cause significant visual artifacts. To cope with this issue, we developed a new pneumatic rotary servo-motor (based on the Tesla turbine) that can be effectively used during continuous MR imaging. We thoroughly tested the performance and magnetic properties of our MRI-compatible actuator with several experiments, both inside and outside an MRI scanner. The reported results confirm the feasibility to use this motor for MRI-guided robotic interventions.