These robotic tentacles could travel into the lungs to treat cancer

Scientists have developed tiny robotic tentacles that travel into the lungs to detect and treat cancer.

The device is just 2.4 mm in diameter and ultra-soft.  It’s sent to the periphery of the lungs from the end of a bronchoscope — a thin tube with a light and camera.

During the journey, magnets adapt the robot’s shape to the body’s anatomy. As it moves, both its form and position and form are fed back to a clinician. After reaching its destination, an embedded laser fibre can deliver localised treatment.

The robot was developed at the University of Leeds’ STORM lab, which tested the system on a cadaver. They found that it can travel 37% deeper than standard equipment, while causing less tissue damage.

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“This new approach has the advantage of being specific to the anatomy, softer than the anatomy and fully shape-controllable via magnetics,” said Professor Pietro Valdastri, director of the STORM Lab, in a statement. “These three main features have the potential to revolutionise navigation inside the body.”

a Overview of magnetic tentacle delivery bronchoscope and actuation system comprised of two robotic arms, each controlling the pose of an external permanent magnet (EPM). b Magnetic tentacle deployment and laser delivery to a targeted tumor. c Illustration of the tentacle delivery system and sensing. d Schematic of the magnetic tentacle showing the integrated shape sensing Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) and laser fiber.

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