Intuitive Mechanical Interface for Magnetic Field Steering
Project Description
Magnetically guided catheters are often steered with game controllers that were designed for camera or vehicle orientation—not for magnetic field manipulation near a patient. This creates a fundamental coordinate-frame mismatch among (a) the patient/magnet system, (b) the handheld controller, and (c) the catheter’s moving tip. The result is non-intuitive control, increased cognitive load, and trial-and-error steering.
This project tackles that core usability problem through mechanical design and systems engineering. The goal is to create a frame-matched, haptic control concept that makes the desired bend direction physically obvious—so a first-time user can “move the handle where they want the tip to go.” Work will emphasize embodiment of the patient/magnet axes in the mechanism, ergonomic affordances that guide valid motions, and a clean systems architecture that maps user input to magnetic field commands reliably and safely. Evaluation will be done on a benchtop setting with simple targets to compare intuitiveness and basic performance against conventional input methods.
This project tackles that core usability problem through mechanical design and systems engineering. The goal is to create a frame-matched, haptic control concept that makes the desired bend direction physically obvious—so a first-time user can “move the handle where they want the tip to go.” Work will emphasize embodiment of the patient/magnet axes in the mechanism, ergonomic affordances that guide valid motions, and a clean systems architecture that maps user input to magnetic field commands reliably and safely. Evaluation will be done on a benchtop setting with simple targets to compare intuitiveness and basic performance against conventional input methods.
Supervisor
GU, Richard
Quota
2
Course type
UROP1000
UROP1100
UROP2100
UROP3100
UROP4100
Applicant's Roles
Mechanical Concept Development: Generate and refine mechanisms that align user hand motion with the patient/magnet frame; consider ergonomics, constraints, and safety.
Prototyping & Fabrication: Build low- to mid-fidelity prototypes (e.g., 3D-printed or machined parts) to iterate on form, feel, and kinematics.
Systems Integration: Define sensor/actuator needs at a block-diagram level and integrate the mechanical interface with a basic software pipeline for interpreting inputs.
Test Planning & Execution: Design simple benchtop tasks and metrics (e.g., time-to-reach, directional accuracy, correction counts) to qualitatively assess intuitiveness.
Documentation & Communication: Maintain clear design rationale, trade-off records, and present results with figures, CAD excerpts, and short demos.
Prototyping & Fabrication: Build low- to mid-fidelity prototypes (e.g., 3D-printed or machined parts) to iterate on form, feel, and kinematics.
Systems Integration: Define sensor/actuator needs at a block-diagram level and integrate the mechanical interface with a basic software pipeline for interpreting inputs.
Test Planning & Execution: Design simple benchtop tasks and metrics (e.g., time-to-reach, directional accuracy, correction counts) to qualitatively assess intuitiveness.
Documentation & Communication: Maintain clear design rationale, trade-off records, and present results with figures, CAD excerpts, and short demos.
Applicant's Learning Objectives
Mechanical Embodiment of Coordinate Frames: Translate abstract kinematic relationships into tangible mechanisms that “teach” the correct motion.
Human-Centered Mechanical Design: Apply ergonomics, affordances, and haptic cues to reduce cognitive load and support safe, intuitive operation.
Systems Thinking: Architect a clear signal path from user input → interface motion → interpreted command, including basic sensing and constraints.
Rapid Iteration & Prototyping: Practice fast, evidence-driven design cycles—from sketching and CAD to build, test, and refine.
Design for Safety & Reliability (Medical Context): Consider fail-safe behaviors, limits, and basic hygiene/cleanability in early-stage concepts.
Experimental Evaluation & Reporting: Plan simple, fair comparisons to legacy controls and communicate findings with concise visuals and narratives.
Human-Centered Mechanical Design: Apply ergonomics, affordances, and haptic cues to reduce cognitive load and support safe, intuitive operation.
Systems Thinking: Architect a clear signal path from user input → interface motion → interpreted command, including basic sensing and constraints.
Rapid Iteration & Prototyping: Practice fast, evidence-driven design cycles—from sketching and CAD to build, test, and refine.
Design for Safety & Reliability (Medical Context): Consider fail-safe behaviors, limits, and basic hygiene/cleanability in early-stage concepts.
Experimental Evaluation & Reporting: Plan simple, fair comparisons to legacy controls and communicate findings with concise visuals and narratives.
Complexity of the project
Challenging