Robo-scallop to carry drugs through the body

Sometimes swallowing a pill or getting stuck with a needle isn't the most efficient way of attacking an internal problem, at least according to a team of physicists at the Netherlands' University of Twente. Their latest project involves a microscopic tube -- just a few millimeters long and 750 microns in diameter -- dubbed the robo-scallop, built to propel itself through the human bloodstream with the help of soundwaves. This body-surfer of sorts has a bubble of air on one end that expands and contracts by way of vibrations from direct external physical contact between the patient's skin and a loudspeaker, causing the transporter to be propelled through an ocean of platelets and delivering medicines in hard-to-reach spots. Challenges that remain are improving the robo-scallop's speed without, um, deafening the patient, and decreasing its size even further to get access to the tiniest of gateways. Although the device lacks an estimated completion date, the robo-scallop may provide relief to those who find alternate methods of drug administration a tad hard to swallow, or, well, you know.

[Keith L. Dick @ Jul 26th 2006 5:37AM]

Not in my Body you don't!!!

[Spoonman @ Jul 26th 2006 11:14AM]

Huh, a new definition of "NIMBY"! :)

Me, I'm all for it. It's about time the medical field walked out of the dark ages. Using a scalpel to find out what's wrong with someone, or even to fix a problem, is only slightly less barbaric than using leeches to cure cancer.

[Bryan @ Jul 26th 2006 11:15AM]

I hate seafood. Don't worry, this just "mimics a scallop"---it's not a real scallop.

[Matt @ Jul 26th 2006 2:31PM]

This reminds me of the scene in the first "Matrix" film where Trinity removed the bug that Agent Smith implanted in Neo, while Morpheus drives. That scene was pretty freaky, and so is this concept.

[miron @ Jul 26th 2006 4:18PM]

i love how the adsense gives me links to roombas and prescription drugs. I SMELL A MOD