MIT researchers have developed a soft, snake-like robot that can move through the small intestine, potentially helping doctors examine hard-to-reach parts of the gut, take biopsies and deliver drugs.
A Robot Snake That Could One Day Travel Through Your Gut
In short
The soft device was engineered by researchers at MIT specifically to maneuver through the narrow pathways of the small intestine. It aims to assist medical professionals by navigating into hard-to-reach areas of the gut that are typically difficult to access. Beyond simply enabling doctors to visually examine the intestinal tract, the system holds the potential to collect tissue biopsies and deliver targeted drugs directly to affected sites.
Key points
- The flexible system helps medical professionals examine previously hard-to-reach areas of…: The flexible system helps medical professionals examine previously hard-to-reach areas of the intestinal tract.
- Potential medical applications for the technology include collecting internal biopsies an…: Potential medical applications for the technology include collecting internal biopsies and delivering targeted drugs.
- Soft robotics technology could significantly advance minimally invasive procedures within…: Soft robotics technology could significantly advance minimally invasive procedures within the human digestive system.