Introduction
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich have developed a microscopic robot designed to navigate the human body using sound waves. The robot, which resembles a corkscrew-shaped piece of pasta, could potentially revolutionize drug delivery methods in medicine.
Sound Propulsion
The team 3D-printed the robot from a non-toxic polymer suitable for use inside the human body. By using a transducer to emit sound waves, the robot can be propelled forward in a spinning motion through a narrow tube. The sound waves cause the molecules in the liquid to hit the robot’s spirals, creating vortices that propel it forward.
Controlled Motion
The direction of the robot’s motion can be altered by changing the frequency of the sound waves. The researchers found that even when the tube was angled upwards at 45 degrees, the robot could still move forward. This ability to navigate uphill opens up possibilities for navigating blood vessels inside the body.
Advantages and Potential Applications
Using sound waves as a means of propulsion offers several advantages over other methods, such as using magnets. Jie Yin at North Carolina State University states that the robot has high potential for applications in medicine, particularly in drug delivery. However, further research is still needed to explore how to load and unload drugs to target specific areas.
Future Development
The research team is currently working on developing an “acoustic helmet” that could be used to move and control helical microrobots inserted into blood vessels in the brain. With further improvements to the robot’s shape and additional transducers for controlling its path of travel, it may become a viable solution for navigating the human body.
Conclusion
The development of a microbot capable of navigating the human body using sound waves marks a significant advancement in drug delivery and medical robotics. With ongoing research and development, this technology has the potential to revolutionize how drugs are delivered within the body.
