On February 26, researchers from Ritsumeikan University and the Shiga University of Medical Science completed work on a miniature robot prototype that, once inserted into the body through an incision, can be freely controlled to perform medical treatment and capture images of affected areas. The plastic-encased minibot, which measures 2 cm (0.8 inch) in length and 1 cm (0.4 inch) in diameter, can be maneuvered through the body by controlling an external magnetic field applied near the patient.

While other types of miniature swallowable robots have been developed in the past, their role has mostly been limited to capturing images inside the body. According to Ritsumeikan University professor Masaaki Makikawa, this new prototype robot has the ability to perform treatment inside the body, eliminating the need for surgery in some cases.

The researchers developed five different kinds of prototypes with features such as image capture functions, medicine delivery systems, and tiny forceps for taking tissue samples. MRI images of the patient taken in advance serve as a map for navigating the minibot, which is said to have performed swimmingly in tests on animals. Sensor and image data is relayed back to a computer via an attached 2-mm diameter cable, which looks like it can also serve as a safety line in case the minibot gets lost or stranded.

[Source: pinktentacle]
,

Related Posts

• Youtube Video Baseball Batting Robot
Baseballbats is excited to introduce you to the world's first baseball batting robot, created by...
• From Japan, it’s the iPodBot!
How many times have you asked yourself, “if only my iPod docking station were a robot? And not ju...
• SaveSunMingMing.com Down For the Count!
I used to have a site up at SaveSunMingMing.com to raise support and awareness for Sun Ming Ming, a ...
• Paris Hilton Getting Eyelid Surgery
Paris Hilton is allegedly planning to have plastic surgery to correct her drooping left eyelid. ...
• Yotube Video : Robot Guitar from Gibson
  Don’t get too excited. Gibson Guitar is not, in fact, introducing a fully robotic guit...
• The Fish in a Bag soap will keep the tiny hands clean
As a parent I know the trouble that all the parents face to put their kids into the habit of wash...
• Super Bowl Ads online
Just in case you wanted to see any of the Super Bowl ads online, you can check them out right now at...
• Assistive robot adapts to people, new places
In the futuristic cartoon series "The Jetsons," a robotic maid named Rosie whizzed around the Jetson...
• New Ultra-Mobile Processors From Intel
Intel is planning to announce a new set of processors for the next generation of Ultra-Mobile PC (UM...
• Wii goBot: The Perfect Game with Youtube Video
Presenting a Lego NXT Wii Playing Robot that can bowl a perfect game: Meet WiigoBot: You are...