It can cut tissues and perform biopsies in hard-to-reach places.
At Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, a prototype of a new multifunctional medical robot has been presented, capable of traveling inside a patient's body and performing five separate tasks simultaneously. It is only 4.4 mm long and has no independent power source – the robot is powered by external magnetic fields. Unlike previous versions, it features a semi-rigid design and a special type of movement – the robot can rotate to navigate complex areas within the body.
This is the first robot with magnetic external power that combines multiple functions. Previous designs had a key drawback – they were magnetized as a whole, so the behavior of all parts of the robot was subordinated to a single task. The new design uses magnetic inclusions with a diameter of 5 micrometers within a silicone base, and their placement is carefully calibrated. This allows selective activation of different parts of the robot to perform corresponding tasks.
In addition to moving within the body, the robot can cut tissues and perform biopsies in hard-to-reach places, transporting the excised fragments outside with minimal impact on the main organism. It can also deliver medication to the required area, and in the case of cancer cells, use heating to conduct experimental hyperthermia for targeted destruction.
The technology is in its early stages; the robot is currently being tested on tissue simulators rather than inside a living organism. It has many drawbacks, the main one being the need for complex and continuous monitoring of the machine throughout its time inside living matter. Surgeons will need to teach the robot and learn new ways of visualizing movements and overall navigation within the body to perform various procedures.
