13 May Pill-Shaped Robot Can Be Swallowed To Assist in Foreign Body Removal or Drug Delivery
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Shuhei Miyashita
Dr. Shuhei Miyashita PhD
Lecturer in Intelligent Robotics
Department of Electronics
University of York, Heslington
York, UK
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this device? What are some of the obstacles you and your team face in the development?
Dr. Miyashita: We are developing medical technology that is less invasive and more
autonomous and thus can provide safe and consistent outcomes. The
biggest challenge is how to build a capable medical robot that is
clinically safe. Addressing this challenge requires finding
bio-compatibe materials, safe means of transportation in the body, a
way to reconfigure the robot from pill shape to unfolded shape, and
precise multi-mode control for the location and function of the robot.
MedicalResearch.com: How big is the problem of battery ingestion? Could the swallowed robot help remove a device in the intestine as well as the stomach?
Dr. Miyashita: Every year more than 3500 people accidentally swallow a battery only
in the US alone. Most of the victims are children. For the robot use
in the intestine, the encapsulation method needs to be changed, but
potentially yes, we are hopeful that it is possible to use this
approach in other gastrointestinal places.
MedicalResearch.com: What other applications or research do you envision?
Dr. Miyashita: We are currently focusing the use of the capsule for drug delivery and
patching wounds, though microsurgery on soft tissue is also a
potential focus for our future work.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Dr. Miyashita: We would like to understand other applications of this type of
approach to interventions inside the body and look forward to
collaborating with the medical community on this.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Research to be presented at the 2016
International Conference on Robotics and Automation
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on May 13, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD