Abstract: A mechanical end-effector for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) equipped with a mechanochromic indicator for providing the surgeon with visual indication of the force applied upon a tissue is disclosed. The indicator includes a polymeric matrix functionalized with mechanochromic molecules, wherein a prepolymer/curing agent weight ratio used for preparing the matrix is in the range 1:1-15:1 and the percentage by weight of the mechanochromic molecules in the matrix is in the range 0.1-5%.

Abstract: A grasper device for mini-invasive surgery procedures is provided, having two jaws, each of which having two elastically-deformable elements fixed one another and developing according to a main longitudinal direction, in particular a front element which contacts the tissue to be grasped and a back support element receiving a grasping force from a proximal command and having a higher modulus of elasticity than the front element. During the application of a grasping force Fz, the two elements deform along a transverse direction that is orthogonal to the main longitudinal direction and to the grasping force Fz.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for in vitro three-dimensional cell co-culture, wherein said method comprises a step of seeding a plurality of cells of a first cell type on a first magnetic prismatic porous scaffold and a plurality of cells of a second cell type on a second magnetic prismatic porous scaffold, while keeping the first and second scaffolds physically separate, and a step of moving the first and second scaffolds towards each other under the action of a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator until contact occurs on at least one surface.

Abstract: A grasper device for mini-invasive surgery procedures is provided, having two jaws, each of which having two elastically-deformable elements fixed one another and developing according to a main longitudinal direction, in particular a front element which contacts the tissue to be grasped and a back support element receiving a grasping force from a proximal command and having a higher modulus of elasticity than the front element. During the application of a grasping force Fz, the two elements deform along a transverse direction that is orthogonal to the main longitudinal direction and to the grasping force Fz.

Abstract: A deployable structure is described including a first and a second robotic system (4, 6; 604, 606), each of which includes: a respective distal element (12;22); at least one respective shape-locking element (14;24); and a respective coupling structure (16;26) operable in a first and a second operating mode. When the coupling structure of the first robotic system operates in the first operating mode, it is elastically deformable and operable so as to move the first robotic system; when the coupling structure of the first robotic system operates in the second operating mode, it forms a guide for the movement of the second robotic system. When the coupling structure of the second robotic system operates in the first operating mode, it is elastically deformable and is operable so as to move the second robotic system; when the coupling structure of the second robotic system operates in the second operating mode, it forms a guide for the movement of the shape-locking element of the first robotic system.

Abstract: A deployable structure is described including a first and a second robotic system (4, 6; 604, 606), each of which includes: a respective distal element (12;22); at least one respective shape-locking element (14;24); and a respective coupling structure (16;26) operable in a first and a second operating mode. When the coupling structure of the first robotic system operates in the first operating mode, it is elastically deformable and operable so as to move the first robotic system; when the coupling structure of the first robotic system operates in the second operating mode, it forms a guide for the movement of the second robotic system. When the coupling structure of the second robotic system operates in the first operating mode, it is elastically deformable and is operable so as to move the second robotic system; when the coupling structure of the second robotic system operates in the second operating mode, it forms a guide for the movement of the shape-locking element of the first robotic system.