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http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/07/10/s ... r-repairs/
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Soon, a miniaturized robot that swims up your bloodstream for repairs
Juniper Foo | Jul 10, 2009
For those who remember the sci-fi classic Fantastic Voyage back in 1966, or have seen reruns, it seems the future has finally caught up with the past. Israel's best from the Technion University have taken a leaf out of Hollywood's book, and turned into reality what was previous a fantastical premise by Isaac Asimov, about a miniaturized sub injected into a dying man’s bloodstream to provide medical treatment.
The submarine in this instance has been replaced with a 1mm robot made using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. In layman terms, it has no engine and works with the help of a magnetic field wielded on it from outside the patient's body. Incredibly, this already tiny bot will soon pack on tools and a camera eye to help it do a better job.
While this medical development is supercool considering you no longer have to be cut up or have camera probes stuck up your unmentionables, one wishes the bot didn't look so much like a household pest. The thought of an insectile bug/bot with metallic legs crawling through my veins is rather disturbing, let alone how it's going to exit your body. But for sufferers of artery blockage or cancer, this is fantastic news since invasive surgery can be avoided.
Includes one photo
Soon, a miniaturized robot that swims up your bloodstream for repairs
Juniper Foo | Jul 10, 2009
For those who remember the sci-fi classic Fantastic Voyage back in 1966, or have seen reruns, it seems the future has finally caught up with the past. Israel's best from the Technion University have taken a leaf out of Hollywood's book, and turned into reality what was previous a fantastical premise by Isaac Asimov, about a miniaturized sub injected into a dying man’s bloodstream to provide medical treatment.
The submarine in this instance has been replaced with a 1mm robot made using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. In layman terms, it has no engine and works with the help of a magnetic field wielded on it from outside the patient's body. Incredibly, this already tiny bot will soon pack on tools and a camera eye to help it do a better job.
While this medical development is supercool considering you no longer have to be cut up or have camera probes stuck up your unmentionables, one wishes the bot didn't look so much like a household pest. The thought of an insectile bug/bot with metallic legs crawling through my veins is rather disturbing, let alone how it's going to exit your body. But for sufferers of artery blockage or cancer, this is fantastic news since invasive surgery can be avoided.