Written on September 2, 2008 – 8:32 am | by Bogdan Alex |
Wouldn’t it be cool to cure human organs without performing complicated medical surgeries? I mean not with mystical or psychic abilities, but with some kind of less invasive method. Scientists are well on their way to make this type of technology a reality. They came up with microscopic devices, known as microgrippers, which can be easily swallowed by patients. These minute devices can be activated via chemicals and magnets to do surgical work inside the body with no incisions necessary.

According to MIT Technology Review, the current microgripper prototypes are designed to respond autonomously to chemical cues in the body. In this sense, the microdevice can trace the biochemicals released by infected tissue and it can remove pieces of that tissue for further analysis.

The current microgripper prototype measures 500 micrometers (0.05 centimeters) in diameter, and it is made of a film of copper and chromium covered with polymer. In order for the gripper mechanism to remain open, the polymer must stay rigid. Biochemical triggers or lowering the temperature causes the polymer to soften, actuating the gripper's fingers so that they curl inward to form a ball that is 190 micrometers wide. Another chemical signal can be used to reopen the gripper. Scientists assure us that all of the chemicals used as triggers in experiments are harmless to the human body.

This actually reminds me of that movie called Innerspace, where they shrank a special one-man vessel and introduced it into someone’s body to do all sorts of curative stuff. Soon, this can become a reality and we won’t have to be proud possessor of huge scars.