Navigation of Microrobots by MRI: Impact of Gravitational, Friction and Thrust Forces on Steering Success

Magnetic resonance navigation (MRN) uses MRI gradients to steer magnetic drug-eluting beads (MDEBs) across vascular bifurcations. We aim to experimentally verify our theoretical forces balance model (gravitational, thrust, friction, buoyant and gradient steering forces) to improve the MRN targeted success rate. A single-bifurcation phantom (3 mm inner diameter) made of poly-vinyl alcohol was connected to a cardiac pump at 0.8 mL/s, 60 beats/minutes with a glycerol solution to reproduce the viscosity of blood. MDEB aggregates (25 ± 6 particles, 200 $$\mu {\text{m}}$$ ) were released into the main branch through a 5F catheter. The phantom was tilted horizontally from − 10° to +25° to evaluate the MRN performance. The gravitational force was equivalent to 71.85 mT/m in a 3T MRI. The gradient duration and amplitude had a power relationship (amplitude=78.717 $${(duration)}^{-0.525}$$ ). It was possible, in 15° elevated vascular branches, to steer 87% of injected aggregates if two MRI gradients are simultaneously activated ( $${G}_{x}$$ = +26.5 mT/m, $${G}_{y}$$ = +18 mT/m for 57% duty cycle), the flow velocity was minimized to 8 cm/s and a residual pulsatile flow to minimize the force of friction. Our experimental model can determine the maximum elevation angle MRN can perform in a single-bifurcation phantom simulating in vivo conditions.