Improvement of Tactile Sensitivity by Stochastic Resonance: Application to Vibrating Forceps

The tactile information is crucial in the execution of precise and dexterous manipulations. The improvement of the tactile sensitivity is expected to assist tasks that require high-precision manual dexterity. In this paper, the improvement in tactile sensitivity based on stochastic resonance effect was demonstrated. A vibration actuator was attached on forceps for a minimally invasive surgery, and the improvement in tactile sensation when using the forceps was tested. The experimental results confirmed that appropriate vibration enhances the tactile sensitivity even when the vibration was transmitted via the forceps.