In a significant development, scientists at the University of Leeds have created a tiny robot that can go deeply into the lungs and can see the early stages of cancer. The magnet-controlled, ultra-soft tentacle, which has a diameter of barely 2 millimeters and can reach some of the smallest bronchial tubes, has the potential to significantly alter how lung cancer is treated.
The study, which was produced by scientists, engineers, and doctors headquartered at the STORM Lab in Leeds, lays the door for a more individualized, precise, and considerably less invasive approach to treatment.
Fewer tissue damages and increased precision
Researchers tested the magnetic tentacle robot in the cadaver’s lungs, where they found that it can go 37% deeper than conventional equipment while causing less tissue damage.
On Thursday, July 27, Nature Engineering Communications published the findings of the experiments, which were funded by the European Research Council.
Professor Pietro Valdastri, director of the STORM Lab and research coordinator, said: “This is a tremendously interesting breakthrough. This novel method has the advantages of being tailored to the anatomy, being softer than the anatomy, and being completely magnetically shape-controllable. The three key components described above have the power to completely change internal body navigation.
Robots will make less invasive treatments possible.
While enhancing navigation within the lungs during biopsies, the magnetic tentacle robot can also pave the path for far less intrusive treatment by allowing doctors to focus exclusively on harmful cells and maintain the functionality of healthy organs and tissue.
Co-author of the report Dr. Giovanni Pittiglio said, “Our goal was, and is, to bring curative aid with minimal pain for the patient.” Pittiglio conducted the research while earning his PhD at the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds.
He continued, “We were able to do this using ultra-soft tentacles that can reach deeper while molding to the anatomy and reducing stress. This was made possible by remote magnetic actuation.
The team will now begin gathering all the information necessary for them to begin conducting human studies.
Researchers at the University of Leeds School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering’s Zaneta Koszowska, the paper’s principal author, said: “This is an important contribution to the field of magnetically controlled robotics. Our research demonstrates that both full surgical procedures and camera-assisted diagnostic procedures can be carried out in restricted anatomical areas.