Spider-shaped Soft Robots for Minimally Invasive Gut Surgery
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is crucial for our health, comprising organs like the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and rectum, which help digest food, absorb nutrients, and remove waste.
However, conditions affecting the GI system, such as GI cancers, have risen sharply in recent years. Endoscopies, which use a flexible tube with a camera, are commonly used to find and treat these problems, but they can be uncomfortable and may not reach all areas of the digestive system.
A team at the University of Macau in China has developed tiny soft robots that can move through the digestive system and deliver medicine directly to the needed areas, offering a promising solution for minimally invasive gut surgery.
These robots could potentially revolutionize the treatment of GI conditions.
This innovation may lead to more comfortable and effective treatments for patients with GI problems.
Author's summary: Spider-shaped soft robots may improve gut surgery.