Utah People's Post

The Latest News from the Beehive State

Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Log in
  • National News
    • Female Caseworker Killed & Doctor Shot in Philadelphia
  • State News
    • Car Chase Leads to Drug Arrest
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
    • How to Prepare For Ticks Season
    • Magical Weight Loss Bean Scam
  • Sports
  • Business
You are here: Home / Health / Researchers Develop New Microrobots for Medical Surgeries

Researchers Develop New Microrobots for Medical Surgeries

Posted by

microrobots for surgery

Many advancements take place in the medical field, whether it makes headlines or not. One of the most recent improvements involves soft, remote-controlled microrobots that can administer drugs more precisely and perform delicate operations.

It’s a breakthrough for the use of miniature robots, which can help doctors clear clogged-up arteries by entering the human body less intrusively than normal surgery practices. These microrobots can be used in treating a variety of diseases with fewer complications.

Building and equipping these bio-inspired robots with advanced features was finally achieved by a team of scientists from EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne). The simple yet versatile method was created in partnership with ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

For the tests, the researchers also developed a platform that allowed them to improve on the several robot designs they came up with, while also studying various modes of locomotion.

In the end, their research produced complex reconfigurable microrobots which can be controlled with electromagnetic fields and prompted to shape-shift using heat.

Unlike what we expect when we hear about conventional robots, these new microrobots are flexible and soft, made of magnetic nanoparticles and a biocompatible hydrogel.

During the manufacturing process, the nanoparticles give a shape to the microrobots and allow them to move and swim when an electromagnetic field is added. Building one of these microrobots is a multi-step process.

First, the layers of a biocompatible hydrogel are flooded with nanoparticles. Then, an electromagnetic field is added to direct the nanoparticles over the surface of the robot, followed by a polymer substance that solidifies the hydrogel.

After this step, the resulting product is submerged in water to form the final 3D architecture of the microrobot, folding in various ways depending on the orientation of nanoparticles inside the gel.

When the robot gets its final shape, it starts swimming with the help of an electromagnetic field. Then, once heat is applied, the robot shape-shifts and “unfolds.”

This manufacturing approach enabled the research team to produce microrobots that mimic the behavior of the African trypanosomiasis bacteria, the one causing the sleeping sickness.

“Our new production method lets us test an array of shapes and combinations to obtain the best motion capability for a given task,” explained EPFL’s Selman Sakar.

Image Source: Gigaom

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Filed Under: Health

Woman working out at the gym

Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

By

Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

By

United Airlines airplane

Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston

By

Breakfast sandwich

Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

By

Poppy flower

UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply

By

U.S.-Canada border

French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

By

Plus size model

Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

By

Giant manta ray

Unique Manta Ray Nursery Spotted off Texas Coast

By

The rainbow flag

WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

By

456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

By

Kenyan girls dancing

Kenyans Facing Poor Nutrition as Supermarket Shopping Is on the Rise

By

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Staff
  • Terms and Conditions

Recent Posts

  • Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time
  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)
  • Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston
  • Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat
  • UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply
  • French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border
  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

Related Articles

  • Woman working out at the gym

    Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

  • Breakfast sandwich

    Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

  • The rainbow flag

    WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

  • 456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

  • Young woman affected by depression

    If You Have PTSD You Were Likely Abused as a Child

  • Obese dog on a leash

    Obese Dogs Can Help Us Better Understand How Obesity Works

  • Our Brains Are Craving Combinations of Fats and Carbs (Study)

  • Hungry bird with beck open

    Scientists Explain Why We Get ‘Hangry’

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • National News
  • Nature
  • Provo
  • Salt Lake News
  • Science
  • Sports
  • State News
  • Tech & Science
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • West Jordan
  • West Valley City
  • World

Copyright © 2019 utahpeoplespost.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Site Map · Contact