The team is headed by Dr. Moshe Shoham who is also the primary developer of the Spine Assist robot that aids surgeons performing delicate spinal procedures.

    "The first location we're targeting is the spinal canal -- which means the device will travel through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSS) which is clear and similar to water. It doesn't flow too fast, but it needs propulsion," said Shoham.

    "Now we have the propulsion system, but we still don't have the actual payload -- whether it's a camera for images, or a subsystem which would take a biopsy -- that's still in the development stage."

    A robot that moves through body cavities must be small enough to move through the body and it must have a propulsion system that is flexible enough to work. The robot would in essence be a free-swimming endoscope; a robot with two actuators -- swimming tails -- with a camera in the head to broadcast images to the physician outside

    "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."

    Shoham estimates that it will take several more years to complete the design of the robot's payload and to further miniaturize the design.

    "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," said Shoham. This is a step up for micro-penetration into the human body."

    (Agencies)