Miniature medical robot, developed to crawl through blood vessels

The Technion researchers, led by Professor Moshe Shoham, Head of the Kahn Medical Robotics Laboratory, have developed a basic prototype of the robot, which can move as fast as 9 mm per second. Using tiny arms which allow it to withstand blood pressure, it can crawl through the inner walls of blood vessels, the digestive tract and the respiratory system in order to progress through veins and arteries. The robot is powered by an external magnetic field allowing it to be controlled for an unlimited amount of time during medical procedures.

The team at the Technion is examining the possibility of using the ViRob as a treatment for lung cancer. ViRob could assist in targeted drug delivery to lung tumors as well as take samples from different areas within the body. In addition, a number of these micro robots could simultaneously treat a variety of metastases. Researchers also plan to install additional equipment on the robot, including electrodes, miniature drug capsule and other miniature equipment.

Prof. Moshe Shoham said, “This robot is a breakthrough in the biomedical industry, as it allows doctors to access inaccessible areas in the body with minimal invasion. The technology enables a targeted treatment without scattering materials to unnecessary areas in the body.”

Notes:

Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel’s leading science and technology university. Home to the country’s first winners of the Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology and medicine.

The University’s faculties include physical sciences, engineering and it boasts one of the top medical schools in the world. The Technion, Israel’s oldest university has in recent years pioneered advances in many fields. This includes discoveries made in developing the most advanced drug to treat Parkinson’s disease and apparatus that improves walking for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients – and the Technion has one of the only graduate programmes to design, build, and launch satellites. Many breakthrough genetic discoveries have been made at the Technion including creating new heart muscle with its own blood supply using human embryonic stem cells.

The Technion University also has a range of outreach programs that promote science and technology to young people. The exciting programme engages gifted youngsters from across the world whilst helping to bridge socio-economic gaps within Israel’s society via education.

Due to the ingenuity of Technion alumni, Israel is now home to the greatest concentration of high-tech start up companies anywhere outside of the Silicon Valley. Such is the strength of the Technion’s academia that 74% of managers in Israel’s electronic industries hold Technion degrees.

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