Engineers have developed the smallest multifunctional biomedical robot for imaging, sampling and laser ablation.
It measures just 0.95mm and is 60% smaller than existing endoscopic robots and was created by a team at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
It consists of a hollow skeleton, an array of optical fibres, and functionalised skin, all coated with a gel-like outer layer.
It incorporates what researchers from the HKUST School of Engineering describe as the ‘impossible trinity’ of specifications: imaging, high-precision motion and multiple operations.
The researchers demonstrated practical applications of their robot in a study published in the journal Nature Communications.
They observed that their model significantly increased the imaging region by around 25 times the inherent view, extending the obstacle detection distance to 9.4mm, 10 times beyond the theoretical limit.
The miniature robot is capable of sampling, drug delivery, and laser ablation and has demonstrated smooth navigation in tight spaces of in vitro bronchial models and ex-vivo porcine lungs.
According to Shen Yajing, associate professor and head of the research team, small-scale robots have potential applications in interventional diagnosis and treatment. However, existing models showed compactness, precise navigation and function limitations. The research sought to address these gaps.
This new robot offers competitive imaging performance and a tenfold improvement in obstacle detection, paving the way for robotic applications in narrow and challenging human body channels, such as the lungs’ end bronchi and the oviducts.
A microscale 3D printer fabricates the hollow skeleton. The functionalised skin is created using a magnetic spray technique, which helps maintain the robot’s compactness and allows it to glide effortlessly during surgery. It also features a gel-like outer layer that reduces friction.
The team has performed tests with this robot in vitro using bronchial models and ex vivo with porcine lungs.
The tests demonstrated easy navigation in confined spaces while successfully capturing clear images and treating problematic areas.
Professor Shen suggested that the robot holds tremendous potential for clinical applications.
He said: ‘Small-scale continuum robots hold promise for interventional diagnosis and treatment, yet existing models often struggle with compactness, precise navigation, and visualised functional treatment all in one. Our study provides a significant solution for developing a surgical robot to achieve early diagnosis and therapeutic goals in hard-to-reach areas of the body. With ongoing technological advancements, we believe that the fibre-scopic robot will contribute more to human health in the foreseeable future.’
Small continuum robots are used in medical treatments because they can navigate narrow spaces, enable quick recovery, and reduce infection risks.
They can help treat heart disease by deploying stents and electrophysiology catheters, and assist in repairing gastric and duodenal ulcers through single-port laparoscopy, among other applications.
Building on this successful invention, the research team intends to further refine the robot’s features to suit practical applications.
Learn more here.
Photo courtesy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
