Tiny 'Micro-Robots' in your Bloodstream Could Deliver Drugs with Greater Precision (msn.com) 30
The Washington Post reports:
Scientists in Switzerland have created a robot the size of a grain of sand that is controlled by magnets and can deliver drugs to a precise location in the human body, a breakthrough aimed at reducing the severe side effects that stop many medicines from advancing in clinical trials... "I think surgeons are going to look at this," [said Bradley J. Nelson, an author of the paper in Science describing the discovery and a professor of robotics and intelligent systems at ETH Zurich]. I'm sure they're going to have a lot of ideas on how to use" the microrobot. The capsule, which is steered by magnets, might also be useful in treating aneurysms, very aggressive brain cancers, and abnormal connections between arteries and veins known as arteriovenous malformations, Nelson said. The capsules have been tested successfully in pigs, which have similar vasculature to humans, and in silicone models of the blood vessels in humans and animals... Nelson said drug-ferrying microrobots of this kind may be three to five years from being tested in clinical trials.
The problem faced by many drugs under development is that they spread throughout the body instead of going only to the area in need... A major cause of side effects in patients is medications traveling to parts of the body that don't need them. The capsules developed in Switzerland, however, can be maneuvered into precise locations by a surgeon using a tool not that different from a PlayStation controller. The navigation system involves six electromagnetic coils positioned around the patient, each about 8 to 10 inches in diameter... The capsules are made of materials that have been found safe for people in other medical tools...
When the capsule reaches its destination in the body, "we can trigger the capsule to dissolve," Nelson said.
When the capsule reaches its destination in the body, "we can trigger the capsule to dissolve," Nelson said.
Robot? (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
The word "robot" is doing some heavy lifting there.
It seems the attraction to exaggerate here, is practically magnetic.
Re: Robot? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This should be good (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
A possibly offsetting thing is the fact that much less of the drug would be needed, since it's not getting diluted by your entire body. For drugs that are very expensive, that could be important.
Re: (Score:2)
You sound like RJK Jr.
I assume you mean RFK Jr. -- if so, are you sure your connection isn't dropping packets?
Re: (Score:2)
Lysenko Jr.
Replicators were the scourge of three (Score:2)
Re: Replicators were the scourge of three (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
I'm digging the 90's scifi references.
Re: (Score:2)
"Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you." -Londo Mollari
I was always surprised that no one ever responded to Londo, "Like I'm gonna take shit from somebody with that hair."
Re: Replicators were the scourge of three (Score:2)
I'm training to be a surgeon (Score:2)
Playing video games all day
Re: I'm training to be a surgeon (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You'll be a hemorrhoid fixer, playing Assteroids.
Or use antibodies to target specific tissues (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Thats a more high tech version of the thing they did with my dad when he was having his punchup with prostate cancer, some sort of tiny pelet of radiactive shit they implanted in the middle of the tumor. Thankfully ,before it hit stage 4, that and the hormone therapy managed to get it under control and they managed to nuke it.
And instead of losing my dad, I got to make fun of him for a year for being on feminizing hormones and having a fried asshole (radiotherapy is amazing, but it has...... side effects.)
I
Or give you a stroke... (Score:2)
One of those.
I got my ... (Score:3)
Thanks anyway.
Neat... (Score:1)
Super. Now let's see how microtransaction services impact big pharma.
Re: (Score:2)
Super. Now let's see how microtransaction services impact big pharma.
$39.95 per day to continue receiving your insulin dose. Or we can turn on the insulin blockers. Your choice.
Magnets (Score:2)
capsule to dissolves, drug goes into bloodstream (Score:2)