Tiny Surgical Robot Travels Deep Into Lungs to Detect and Treat Cancer

Lung cancer currently holds the grim distinction of being the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. The majority of these cases, approximately 84%, are early-stage non-small cell lung cancer for which surgery is the standard treatment. However, the highly invasive nature of such procedures, often involving significant tissue removal, renders it unsuitable for all patients and can adversely impact lung function. The introduction of lung cancer screening programs has improved survival rates but also emphasized the critical need for non-invasive diagnostic and treatment methods. Now, researchers have created a miniature robot capable of traveling deep into the lungs to identify and treat early signs of cancer. This remarkably small, ultra-soft, magnetically controlled tentacle, merely two millimeters in diameter, can access the smallest bronchial tubes, potentially revolutionizing lung cancer treatment by allowing a more precise, personalized, and minimally invasive approach.

The magnetic tentacle robot, developed by engineers, scientists and clinicians based at the University of Leeds’ (West Yorkshire, UK) STORM Lab was tested on cadaver lungs. The researchers discovered that it can travel 37% deeper into the lungs compared to standard equipment, causing less tissue damage. The robot not only enhances navigation during lung biopsies but also paves the way for significantly less invasive treatments. This technology allows medical professionals to specifically target harmful cells while sparing healthy tissues and organs, thus preserving normal function. The team's next goal is to gather the necessary data to initiate human trials.

Image: Close-up of a magnetic tentacle robot next to a phantom bronchiole (Photo courtesy of University of Leeds)

“This is a really exciting development,” said Professor Pietro Valdastri, Director of the STORM Lab and research supervisor. “This new approach has the advantage of being specific to the anatomy, softer than the anatomy and fully shape-controllable via magnetics. These three main features have the potential to revolutionize navigation inside the body.”

“Our goal was, and is, to bring curative aid with minimal pain for the patient,” added Dr. Giovanni Pittiglio, who carried out the research while conducting his PhD. “Remote magnetic actuation enabled us to do this using ultra-soft tentacles which can reach deeper, while shaping to the anatomy and reducing trauma.”

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