Mini robot treats ailments from the inside out

Researchers from Ritsumeikan University and the Shiga University of Medical Science have developed a miniature robot prototype that is controlled remotely once placed inside the body via an incision (whew! not a suppository) at the affected area. Unlike existing swallowable robots that can only snap pictures and gather info, this minibot is maneuvered by controlling external magnetic fields located close to the patient, and can perform medical treatments that may, in some cases, negate the need for surgery. As of now, the researchers have experimented with 5 different variations of the device to test functions like capturing images, taking tissue samples (see creepy forceps above), and administering medicines. The robot is positioned and guided using an MRI of the patient taken pre-surgery, and an attached mini-cable relays stats and images back to a computer during the procedure. The robot is composed of plastic and measures at 0.8-inches in length and 0.4-inches in diameter, which, by all means, doesn't seem that tiny when you picture it crawling around inside of you. Supposedly, this little guy has tested well with animals, so we humans may be next in line.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[Mark @ Feb 26th 2007 7:31PM]

Looks like SpongeBob's nemesis, Plankton...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/Plankton.jpeg

[thatkidthere @ Feb 26th 2007 7:40PM]

am I to understand that by SURGICALLY implanting this in myself I can avoid SURGERY!? Fannnntastic.

[Pal @ Feb 26th 2007 8:05PM]

The post is a little incorrect. The article reads (I read it in Japanese) that these robots may help to avoid major surgery, not surgery in its entirety.

[Rod @ Feb 26th 2007 7:44PM]

Shiga University of Medicine.
Now there is a world famous medical powerhouse.

Probably as credible as a university started by a medical student from the Caribbeans who failed anatomy, dropped out, re-applied to another Caribbean med school and got accepted, got his "MD" and eventually became a founder of a school of medicine that isn't really a medical school.

314 students from the school have gone on to become MDs.
And I'm supposed to believe someone at that school knows anything about medicine just because they have the world medicine in their name?

[David @ Feb 26th 2007 8:47PM]

This is such an iPhone rip-off!!

[decypher @ Feb 27th 2007 10:40PM]

This is just a GPS tracking device. Yet, you have nothing to fear if you do not break the law.

[obiwan @ Feb 27th 2007 2:21AM]

It's covered in duct tape! I don't know whether that's frightening or inspiring!

[danny @ Feb 27th 2007 5:16AM]

Let's hope that thecomputer which controls this

freaky thing with needles and scisors hand don't

operate on Windows.

:-)

[macona @ Feb 27th 2007 12:30PM]

EEK! Are you sure they dont just strap you down ant let it bore into you through your belly button?

[silvarga @ Feb 27th 2007 6:26PM]

Yeah macona's right...

Judging from the scale of the fingers holding it, it's the same shape and size as a cockroach and looks like something out of a techno remake of "Creepshow". I can already envision a thousand of them creeping across a laboratory floor.

That thing ain't gettin' nowhere near my innards...

[Andreas @ Feb 28th 2007 9:56AM]

Art imitates life and life imitates art.

'Wrath of Khan' - eat your heart out (quite possibly literally).

[James @ Feb 28th 2007 12:00PM]

Kkkkaaaaahhhhnnnn!

[Youngjoo Choi @ Mar 1st 2007 5:31PM]

new is ... detail !

[Marvin @ Mar 6th 2007 5:48PM]

Rod -

Where did you go to medical school?

Exactly. STFU.

[Whatsizface @ Mar 13th 2007 5:24PM]

I, for one, welcome our new mini plastic-covered, Plankton-look-a-like, burrowing robotic overlords.