Abstract: A micro-engine including a rotation structure, the rotation structure including a head portion, a rear portion, and a deformable portion connecting both portions. The deformable portion is deformable in elongation or compression along a main axis and includes a spring element displaying a free end. The free end of the spring element includes at least an abutment member. The deformable portion further includes a wheel-platform which displays a first and a second face, being configured to cooperate with the free end of the spring element in order to transform a back-and-forth movement of the at least one spring element into a rotational movement of the wheel-platform.

Abstract: This system for real-time localization of a millimetric or submillimetric object, such as a microrobot, in a viscoelastic medium, in particular in an organ of a subject such as a brain, a liver or a pancreas, includes: at least one bubble configured to be attached to said object, the or each bubble having a hermetic envelope filled with a gas; at least one ultrasound transducer configured to emit initial ultrasound signals and to detect deflected ultrasound signals deflected at the surface of the bubble(s); a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound transducers and configured to generate localization data of the object from localization data of the bubble(s) based on the deflected ultrasound signals detected by the ultrasound transducers.

Abstract: A microrobot including a propulsion system with a propulsion structure deformable in elongation/contraction along a main axis, an actuator or actuation zone configured to actuate sequentially elongation/contraction cycles of the propulsion structure, a light source aimed at, when activated, emitting at least one predetermined light signal, and a remote control unit. The light source includes an optical fiber, and is configured to be activated by the remote control unit, and the actuator or actuation zone is configured to be activated by the light signal emitted from the light source.

Abstract: A system to localize a micro-device inside a target body part, including: a micro-device remotely steered and controlled from outside the target body part, a control unit including a memory for storing one ultrasound image of the target body part, one probe being brought in contact with a securing body part of the patient, and at least one tracker connected to the micro-device. The probe and the tracker communicate with ultrasounds, the control unit being thus able to localize, in real time, the tracker within an internal referential defined with regards to the probe, and the control unit displays, on a screen, the ultrasound image and displays, in real time, the localization of the micro-device on the ultrasound image.

Abstract: A signal tracking system including: one fixation element to be secured to a rigid body part of the patient surrounding a target body part, the fixation element further including a mapping element, one tracker element to be secured to the fixation element to track, in real time, the internal tracker, and a control unit including a memory to store an internal referential and one image displaying the target body part and one fixation element. The control unit is designed to define, inside the internal referential, at least one 3D frame position attached to the at least one fixation element, and to precisely locate each point of the target body part, the control unit is further designed to precisely localize, in real time, the internal tracker inside the target body part.

Abstract: A delivery and gathering system for at least one target point inside a target body part of a patient, the system including: a microrobot aimed at navigating towards the at least one target point, a cap aimed at being secured to a securing body part of the patient, the cap including a channel which enables to introduce elements into the target body part, or enables to remove elements from inside the target body part, a wire connected to the microrobot and to the cap, and a control unit configured to communicate with the cap, the control unit including a user interface enabling a user to remotely control and navigate the microrobot. The system further includes a flexible elongated element configured to cooperate, by sliding, with the wire in order to extend, from the cap, towards the target point.

Abstract: A micro-engine including a rotation structure, the rotation structure including a head portion, a rear portion, and a deformable portion connecting both portions. The deformable portion is deformable in elongation or compression along a main axis and includes a spring element displaying a free end. The free end of the spring element includes at least an abutment member. The deformable portion further includes a wheel-platform which displays a first and a second face, being configured to cooperate with the free end of the spring element in order to transform a back-and-forth movement of the at least one spring element into a rotational movement of the wheel-platform.

Abstract: This device includes a propulsion element including at least one portion deformable in elongation/contraction according to a main axis (X2) connecting a front portion and a rear portion. At least two guide elements adapted to generate, under the effect of an energy supply, a rotation of the propulsion element respectively about a first axis of rotation and about a second axis of rotation transverse to each other and to the main axis (X2) of the propulsion element. A control unit configured to actuate a rotation of the propulsion element about at least one axis transverse to the main axis (X2) in a coordinated manner with a deformation of the deformable element of the propulsion element in elongation/contraction according the main axis (X2).

Abstract: A microrobot configured to move in a viscous material, in particular in an organ of a subject such as a brain, the microrobot having a propulsion structure comprising a head portion, a rear portion and a deformable portion connecting the head portion and the rear portion. The deformable portion is deformable in elongation/contraction along a main axis connecting the head portion and the rear portion. The head portion includes at its surface at least one propulsion cilium, one end of the at least one propulsion cilium being attached to the head portion and the other end of the at least one propulsion cilium being a free end configured to move freely in the viscous material. The propulsion structure further includes a motor configured to actuate sequentially elongation/contraction cycles of the deformable portion.

Abstract: This system for real-time localization of a millimetric or submillimetric object, such as a microrobot, in a viscoelastic medium, in particular in an organ of a subject such as a brain, a liver or a pancreas, includes: at least one bubble configured to be attached to said object, the or each bubble having a hermetic envelope filled with a gas; at least one ultrasound transducer configured to emit initial ultrasound signals and to detect deflected ultrasound signals deflected at the surface of the bubble(s); a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound transducers and configured to generate localization data of the object from localization data of the bubble(s) based on the deflected ultrasound signals detected by the ultrasound transducers.

Abstract: A microrobot configured to move in a viscous material, in particular in an organ of a subject such as a brain, the microrobot having a propulsion structure including a head portion, a rear portion and a deformable portion connecting the head portion and the rear portion. The deformable portion is deformable in elongation/contraction along a main axis connecting the head portion and the rear portion. The head portion includes at its surface at least one propulsion cilium, one end of the at least one propulsion cilium being attached to the head portion and the other end of the at least one propulsion cilium being a free end configured to move freely in the viscous material. The propulsion structure further comprises a motor configured to actuate sequentially elongation/contraction cycles of the deformable portion.