「スリップノット」構造で手術中の「力覚喪失」を克服 (ZJU’s “slipknot” research featured in Nature: a single suture tackles the global challenge of surgical “force blindness”)

2025-12-22 浙江大学(ZJU)

The process of mechanical information writing and reading in a slipknot.

<関連情報>

• https://www.zju.edu.cn/english/2025/1222/c19573a3122065/page.psp
• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09673-w

スリップノットゲージの機械式トランスミッションとロボット操作 Slipknot-gauged mechanical transmission and robotic operation

Yaoting Xue,Jiasheng Cao,Tao Feng,Kaihang Zhang,Siyang Li,Jiahao Hu,Haotian Guo,Jinming Zhang,Yaoxian Song,Zhuofan Wang,Lei Wang,Qishan Huang,Haofei Zhou,Fanghao Zhou,Jiliang Shen,Yaowei Fan,Zhe Wang,Xinge Li,Jie-Wei Wong,Zhiwei Chen,Dongrui Ruan,Zhikun Miao,Bin Zhang,Enjie Zhou,… Xiujun Cai
Nature  Published:26 November 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09673-w

Abstract

Mechanical transmission is essential in force-related activities ranging from the daily tying of shoe laces¹ to sophisticated surgical² and robotic operations^3,4. Modern machines and robots typically use complex electronic devices designed to sense and limit force⁵, some of which still face challenges when operating space is limited (for example, in minimally invasive surgeries)⁶ or when resources are scarce (for example, operations in remote areas without electricity). Here we describe an alternative slipknot-based mechanical transmission mechanism to control the intelligent operation of both human and robotic systems. Through topological design, slipknot tying and release can encode and deliver force with a consistency of 95.4% in repeating operations, which circumvents the need for additional sensors and controllers. When applied to surgical repair, this mechanism helped inexperienced surgeons to improve their knotting-force precision by 121%, enabling them to perform surgical knots as good as those of experienced surgeons. Moreover, blood supply and tissue healing after surgery were improved. The mechano-intelligence exhibited in slipknots may inspire investigations of knotted structures across multiple length scales. This slipknot-gauged mechanical transmission strategy can be widely deployed, opening up opportunities for resource-limited healthcare, science education and field exploration.