Buckling prevention strategies in nature as inspiration for improving percutaneous instruments: a review

Abstract

A typical mechanical failure mode observed in slender percutaneous instruments, such as needles and guidewires, is buckling. Buckling is observed when the axial compressive force that is required to penetrate certain tissue types exceeds the critical load of the instrument and manifests itself by sudden lateral deflection of the instrument. In nature, several organisms are able to penetrate substrates without buckling while using apparatuses with diameters smaller than those of off-the-shelf available percutaneous needles and guidewires. In this study we reviewed the apparatuses and buckling prevention strategies employed by biological organisms to penetrate substrates such as wood and skin. A subdivision is made between buckling prevention strategies that focus on increasing the critical load of the penetration tool and strategies that focus on decreasing the penetration load of the substrate. In total, 28 buckling prevention strategies were identified and categorized. Most organisms appear to be using a combination of buckling prevention strategies simultaneously. Integration and combination of these biological buckling prevention strategies in percutaneous instruments may contribute to increasing the success rate of percutaneous interventions.

Wasp-Inspired Needle Insertion with Low Net Push Force

“…Tissue transversal with no net axial force by means of microstructures on the needle surface has been reported in [6], [16], [19]. Similarly, inspired by insertion methods observed in mosquito proboscis, Aoyagi et al [20] indicated that substrate penetration with a microneedle comprising serrated stylets is possible without applying a net push force (see also [21] for a description of buckling prevention in mosquitos and wasps).…”

Mosquito inspired medical needles

“…the lateral deflection of the tube when the axial compression force exceeds a critical load -but this is not dealt with in this paper. Sakes et al provide an extensive review of buckling reducing strategies in nature 18 .…”

“…Vibration affects the skin by provoking a shear thinning effect referred to as thixotropy 18 . When at rest ordered microstructures in the skin give a relative stiffness but when shaken the microstructures becomes more unstructured giving a more viscous and less stiff characteristic 24 .…”

“…Another factor is dynamic loading. If the load duration becomes sufficiently small the impulse load becomes more important than the static load 18 . This means that the needle will become less sensitive to buckling and a lower penetration force since the substrate is prevented movement and deformation.…”

“…This means that the needle will become less sensitive to buckling and a lower penetration force since the substrate is prevented movement and deformation. The tip geometry also has an impact on the penetration load where beveled, conical and diamond shapes performs differently 18 .…”