At the University of Leeds, researchers have developed a tiny robot with an ultra-soft tentacle that has the ability to penetrate deep into the lungs to detect and treat the first signs of cancer.
This innovative device is only 2 millimeters in diameter and can be controlled by magnets, allowing it to reach some of the smallest bronchioles. Its potential is to transform the way lung cancer is treated.
The team of engineers, scientists and clinicians at STORM Lab in Leeds developed this robot, paving the way for a more precise, personalized and less invasive approach to the treatment of this condition.
In tests on a cadaver’s lungs, the robot with magnetic tentacles was able to penetrate 37 percent deeper than standard equipment, while causing less tissue damage.
The results of this research, funded by the European Research Council, were published on Thursday in the journal Nature Engineering Communications. This innovation opens new perspectives in the field of diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, offering hope for improving the lives of patients and reducing the negative impact of the disease.
Peter Valdastridirector of STORM Lab and research supervisor: “This new approach has the advantage of being specific to the human anatomy, more flexible than that, and completely controllable via the magnetic function. These three main features have the potential to revolutionize in-body navigation.”
Lung cancer ranks first among cancers with the highest mortality rate worldwide.
For early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, which makes up about 84% of cases, surgery is the standard treatment.
However, the surgical procedure is usually very invasive and involves significant removal of lung tissue. This approach is not suitable for all patients and may affect lung function.
Although lung cancer screening programs have led to improved survival rates, they have also highlighted the urgent need to find non-invasive methods for early diagnosis and treatment of patients.
The magnetic tentacle robot, in addition to improving navigation inside the lungs during biopsies, could pave the way for a much less invasive treatment. This would allow doctors to target only malignant cells, leaving healthy tissues and organs intact, allowing them to continue to function normally.
“Our goal was and is to provide treatment with minimal pain and healing potential for patients”added report co-author Dr Giovanni Pittiglio, who carried out the research while undertaking his PhD at the University of Leeds’ faculty of electronic and electrical engineering.
“Remote magnetic actuation allowed us to do this using ultra-soft tentacles that can reach deeper into tissues in the body, while molding to the patient’s anatomy and reducing trauma”the teacher also specified.
Source: 360medical.ro
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2023-07-27 19:05:23
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