Reseachers from Wageningen University & Research are inspired by the ovipositor of the parasitic wasp for the development of a steerable surgical needle.
Flexible, ultra-thin and steerable needles would help surgeons perform operations even better. Researchers at Wageningen University & Research are therefore studying the ovipositor with which the parasitic wasp lays its eggs. Based on their findings, colleagues at Delft University of Technology have developed the first prototype of this needle which is the thinnest needle in the world. Solutions found in nature are often the source of human inventions such as self-cleaning paint and underwater robots.
During medical procedures, it is important to cause as little damage as possible to tissue, nerve bundles and blood vessels. This can be especially complicated in brain surgery or surgery performed around the spinal cord. Researchers from Delft University of Technology are therefore working on the development of an ultra-thin, flexible and steerable needle. They asked their colleagues at Wageningen University & Research for possible solutions inspired by nature. They in turn turned to the parasitic wasp for inspiration.
The parasitic wasp lays its eggs in the larvae of other insects which are often hidden inside plants or fruit. The parasitic wasp inserts the eggs through a narrow, hollow tube-like structure at the end of her abdomen called the ovipositor. She uses this to pierce through obstacles until she reaches the larvae into which she can insert her eggs. These larvae then become the food for the larvae of the parasitic wasp. The ovipositor of the parasitic wasp is unique, as it is exceptionally flexible.
Via
Dr. Stefan Gruenwald
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