In a groundbreaking stride toward revolutionizing interventional neuroradiology, researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have unveiled a cutting-edge ultraminiaturized magnetic microcatheter designed to navigate the brain’s most tortuous and minuscule blood vessels. Dubbed MagFlow, this innovative device harnesses the kinetic energy of the bloodstream to travel effortlessly within vessels scarcely wider than human hair, a feat unattainable by traditional guidewires and microcatheters. This development was complemented by the creation of OmniMag, a robotic system enabling precise remote control of MagFlow’s directionality through magnetic fields, introducing unprecedented levels of accuracy and safety in vascular navigation.
Microcatheters have long been pivotal in delivering therapeutic agents directly to complex locations within the body’s vascular network, especially for conditions such as arterial blockages, hemorrhages, and tumors requiring targeted interventions. However, the inherent mechanical limitations of conventional devices have impeded access to the brain’s most delicate and narrowest vessels—those with diameters approaching 150 microns. Navigating such intricate vascular pathways has posed risks of vessel damage and has been tedious due to the required push-pull-torque maneuvers performed manually by skilled interventionalists.
The pioneering concept behind MagFlow leverages the bloodstream’s own propulsion, transforming the microrobot from a passive tool into an actively driven navigational device. Instead of exerting mechanical forces against vessel walls, which carries the risk of injury, MagFlow’s flattened polymer body with an embedded magnetic tip rides the natural flow of blood, minimizing friction and contact-induced trauma. Initially conceptualized in 2020 as a ribbonlike polymer with magnetic properties, this idea has now matured into a versatile and functional microcatheter capable of inflating its shaft to transport a variety of thin and viscous medical fluids.
The architecture of MagFlow distinguishes itself from conventional cylindrical catheters by featuring two bonded polymer layers engineered to expand like a firehose, an innovation that allows it to deliver therapeutic agents with exceptional precision and volume control. This capacity addresses the critical need for localized treatment delivery in conditions requiring embolization or chemotherapy where the smallest vessels are involved. The flat design optimizes hydrodynamic properties, further facilitating smooth transit through convoluted vascular geometries.
Complementing this advancement is the OmniMag robotic platform, an intelligent magnetic navigation system that synthesizes physician input from a stylus-based interface into precise orientation of the magnetic field guiding MagFlow. This real-time computational control ensures that the microcatheter’s magnetic tip aligns impeccably with targeted trajectories, enabling superselective catheterization of blood vessels that were previously inaccessible. The sophisticated integration of robotics and magnetic manipulation exemplifies a leap forward in minimally invasive surgical interventions.
Preclinical studies conducted in Paris demonstrated the system’s remarkable efficacy and safety. Porcine models emulating human cerebrovascular anatomy, including the intricate arteries of the head, neck, and spinal region, were catheterized using MagFlow to deliver contrast agents and embolizing substances with unprecedented accuracy and speed. The findings, now published in the esteemed journal Science Robotics, validate the concept of flow-driven navigation and establish MagFlow as a transformative tool with tangible translational potential.
The implications of this technology extend beyond improved procedural outcomes. By reducing the physical manipulation required to advance devices within the vascular tree, MagFlow minimizes endothelial trauma and the associated risks of dissection or thrombosis. This is a critical consideration in fragile cerebral vessels where iatrogenic injury can lead to devastating neurological deficits. Furthermore, the elimination of guidewire dependence streamlines interventions, potentially shortening procedure times and expanding accessibility to complex cases.
Looking forward, EPFL researchers envision MagFlow’s application in a spectrum of neurological and oncological therapies. For adult patients suffering from hemorrhagic stroke or arteriovenous malformations, the microcatheter could enable targeted embolization without the limitations imposed by vessel size. Pediatric oncology also stands to benefit, particularly in delivering therapies directly to neurovascular tumors with minimal systemic exposure. Collaborative efforts are already underway with clinical partners at Lausanne University Hospital and Jules Gonin Eye Hospital to tailor this technology for treating retinoblastoma, a childhood eye cancer demanding precise vascular interventions.
The research team’s ambitions are not confined solely to vascular interventions. An intriguing extension of MagFlow’s capabilities involves its potential use as a platform for deploying intravascular electrodes for neurological mapping. In collaboration with neurosurgeons and epileptologists at Inselspital Bern, EPFL scientists are developing minimally invasive devices capable of navigating cerebral vessels to monitor seizure activity with exquisite spatial resolution. This represents a paradigm shift in neurodiagnostic methodologies, blending robotics, magnetics, and electrophysiology.
Beyond the laboratory and clinical settings, the commercial translation of MagFlow is gathering momentum. The EPFL group is in the process of launching a startup venture aimed at refining and deploying their patented technology into mainstream medical practice. Such entrepreneurial efforts underscore the innovation’s robustness and the substantial unmet clinical needs it addresses. With interest already surging within the medical community worldwide, MagFlow and OmniMag are poised to herald a new era in minimally invasive therapies.
While untethered microrobots employing magnetic or acoustic guidance have garnered attention in recent years for targeted intravascular interventions, the EPFL team underscores the enduring relevance of catheters, especially in terms of payload delivery and safe retrieval post-procedure. MagFlow’s hybrid approach synergizes catheter reliability with cutting-edge magnetic navigation, circumventing limitations related to microrobot payload capacity and removal challenges that have hindered widespread application of untethered devices.
The convergence of advanced materials engineering, magnetic control systems, and vascular biology embodied in MagFlow provides a striking example of multidisciplinary innovation addressing complex medical challenges. As the technology progresses through further validation and regulatory pathways, its integration into clinical workflows could substantially enhance the precision, safety, and efficacy of treatments for vascular and neurological disorders that remain difficult to treat with existing methods.
In summary, the advent of a flow-propelled magnetic microcatheter guided by an advanced robotic magnetic platform represents a major leap in endovascular therapy. By exploiting the kinetics of the bloodstream and sophisticated magnetic field control, EPFL’s MagFlow and OmniMag have redefined the boundaries of vascular accessibility within the brain and beyond. They stand as emblematic of the future of minimally invasive medicine, where microscale robotics and intelligent systems converge to expand therapeutic horizons with unparalleled finesse and safety.
Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Flow-driven magnetic microcatheter for superselective arterial embolization
News Publication Date: 22-Oct-2025
Web References: DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adu4003
Image Credits: 2025 EPFL/Alain Herzog CC BY SA
