World's Smallest Robotic Guidewire Improves Surgical Precision

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Jaydev Desai, one of the inventors of the COAST system.

Jaydev Desai, one of the inventors of the COAST system.

The Coaxially Aligned Steerable Guidewire Robot (COAST) is an innovative surgical device that helps doctors navigate the body’s complex network of blood vessels. Controlled remotely, COAST provides greater accuracy and reduces risks during procedures such as angioplasty. It’s the world’s smallest robotically steerable guidewire, designed to bend and twist smoothly without kinking, thanks to its unique micro-tendon actuation system.

Developed by Georgia Tech researcher Jaydev Desai and his team in the Medical Robotics and Automation (RoboMed) Laboratory, COAST significantly improves the safety and ease of vascular procedures. Its intuitive interface, operated like a gaming controller, could revolutionize complex medical interventions. The system is available for licensing through Georgia Tech’s Office of Technology Licensing.

The Georgia Research Alliance has provided grants and consultation to help bring this innovative technology to the marketplace.
 

Writer: Jerry Grillo
Media Contact: Shelley Wunder-Smith | shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu 
Photos and Video: Christopher McKenney
Animation: Raul Perez and Christopher McKenney
Design: Josie Giles
Series Design: Stephanie Stephens

About Georgia Tech Commercialization

Georgia Tech Commercialization provides a foundation for faculty seeking to translate the Institute's leading-edge research into real-world applications. Commercialization encompasses four pivotal units: CREATE-X, VentureLab, Quadrant-i, and Technology Licensing. These units empower students and faculty to launch startups, provide comprehensive commercialization support, manage intellectual property, and facilitate the transformation of research into viable businesses. The Office of Commercialization’s mission is to provide world-class commercialization services, catalyzing research and innovation to improve the human condition, and enhancing Georgia Tech's position as a leader in technology and entrepreneurial impact.