October 29, 2006

Technion Researchers Find Way to Move

Swimming Robot Through the Human Body

Researchers in the Technion’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering have succeeded in finding a way to move a swimming micro-robot through the human body. The robot’s swimming mechanism is especially adapted to the movement of a tiny body through water. When the swimming mechanism is attached to a micro-camera, it is possible to reach the specific target area in the body and send back pictures.

The way to move the robot, which constitutes a significant breakthrough, was developed by a team headed by Prof. Moshe Shoham of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (who, in the past, developed a robot that assists in back operations) as the doctoral thesis of Gabor Kosha, and with the participation of Dr. Menashe Zaaroor of the Rambam Medical Center. Recently, the development team was joined by graduate student Zippi Neubach. The current development was carried out in the wake of a previous project called “MINOSC” done in the framework of a consortium with the European Union whose purpose was to build an optical fiber endoscope able to enter into the sub-arachnoid space in the spinal cord.

“In this project, we developed a location sensor to determine the location and depth of the endoscope penetration into the spinal cord and it orientation providing the surgeon with a stabilized image of the spine inside,” explains Gabi Kosha. “Now, we are thinking about the next generation endoscope that will swim by itself. This will be a swimming robot with two tails to propel it. It will have a power source and, on its head, will be a camera, which will enable the robot to send pictures to the surgeon.”

The solution to the robot’s swimming problem developed at the Technion is an important stage towards the development of an overall robot. “This is a unique swimming mechanism that is adapted to tiny sizes and, with very low power consumption", the Technion researchers explain. “In the future, we hope that the robot will also be able to perform biopsies and release medications for local treatment.”

The Technion development has already been presented at scientific conferences and aroused great interest. Researchers at Harvard University’s Faculty of Medicine are interested in using it. In the researchers’ estimation, a few more years are needed in order to attain a completed product. “I believe that in the future there will be micro-robots that will be permanently implanted in our bodies and will be able to navigate to problematic points,” says Prof. Shoham. “This is a step up for micro-penetration into the human body.”

Technion Spokesperson - Amos Levav 2073/06