Robot-like Worm to Remove Brain Tumors

23.09.2013 16:35

Something that seemed pure and simple fable can be real today and these real things often exceed the most promising forecasts of day-dreamers. For instance, recently a research team at National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering showcased a robot-like worm that can perform brain tumor operations. It sneaks through to the tumor and removes it.

The key importance difference of this technology is that the device works its way up to the tumor while the patient is undergoing an MRT procedure. Actually, it all looks as simple as ABC and the robot is introduced into the head before the tomography. Surgeons who control the robot see both where the sinister tumor and the worm are at a given time, which ensures the improved precision.

It's worth noticing that upon conventional tumor removal operation the lump often moves about and makes it all more difficult. Occasionally doctors have to spend a lot of time to find where the tumor is to remove it.

As far as we can understand, the device sucks in the malignant tissue, leaving healthy parts of the brain undamaged.

Currently the product is being tested on pigs and human corpses. As soon as the device is completely fine-tuned, it will be serving the good of humanity. We'd really like to see it launched in the foreseeable future and we hope that it won't come to standstill during testing.

Source: http://habrahabr.ru/post/193812/

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