PERSONA THEME TRENDS WELL-BEING
Tiny robot caterpillar designed to walk through the body to deliver drugs T he Research team at City University of Hong Kong has developed a tiny robot with ‘caterpillar legs’ that could also be used to deliver drugs inside the human body. They say it can move efficiently inside surfaces within the body lined with, or entirely immersed in, body fluids such as blood or mucus. Researchers say that the robot is capable of carrying relatively heavy loads and adapting to adverse environments and could pave the way for medical technology advances. But what makes the ‘milli-robot’ stand out is its hundreds of less than one millimetre long pointed legs that look like tiny hair. The research was published in Nature Communications. The robot’s body thickness measures around 0.15 mm, with each conical leg measuring 0.65 mm long and the gap between the legs measuring about 0.6 mm, making the leg-lengthto-gap ratio around 1:1. The pointed legs have greatly reduced the contact area thus reducing friction. Laboratory tests showed that the multi-legged robot has
40 times less friction than a limbless robot in both wet and dry environment. The robot is fabricated with a silicon material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) embedded with magnetic particles which enables it to be remotely controlled by applying electromagnetic force. Both the materials and the multi-leg design greatly improve the robot’s hydrophobic property. The robot is controlled by a magnetic manipulator that can move it in both a flap propulsion pattern and an inverted pendulum pattern meaning that it can use its front feet to flap forward as well as swinging the body by standing on the left and right feet alternately to advance respectively. The researchers said ‘the rugged surface and changing texture of different tissues inside the human body makes transportation challenging. Our multi-legged robot shows an impressive performance in various terrains and hence open wide applications for drug delivery inside the body.’ The research team further proved that when facing
NEWSCOPE
RESEARCH
ISSUES
Simba hybrid pillow
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imba hybrid pillow is a perfect combination of technology and material. It contributes not only to the best night’s sleep but also increases the benefits of sleep for the body and mind. The uniqueness of this pillow lies in the choice of the material with which it is made. The material or filling used is Outlast based on Nanotube technology and is made of memory foam tubes designed to adapt to each sleeper. Each pillow comes with hundreds of nanotubes that can be added or removed to alter the height and firmness of the pillow. These small laser-cut, cylindrical tubes are made from super-soft memory foam which moulds to the shape of your head giving one utmost comfort. The pillow can be customised to
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be made soft, medium firm or firm by the addition or deletion of nanotubes.Each nanotube adapts to your sleeping position, supporting the complex structures of the head, neck, and spine.To keep the body temperature regulated outlast draws the heat away, trapping it within its fibres and as one cools down it releases the warmth back out. On the reverse side of the pillow is a combination of smart microfiber and premium 300 thread count jacquard cotton. This side is extremely soft, lightweight, breathable and highly durable.Thus, this pillow has the advantages of thermal regulation and height alteration which no other pillow has offered till date. This seems to be the future of comfort sleeping. Source: www.inshorts.com
Volume 4 | Issue 1 | January-March 2019
an obstacle ten times higher than its leg length, the robot, with its deformable soft legs, is able to lift up one end of its body to form an angle of up to 90 degrees and cross the obstacle easily and can also increase its speed by increasing the electromagnetic frequency applied. The robot also shows a remarkable loading ability. Lab tests showed that it was capable of carrying a load 100 times heavier than itself, a strength comparable to an ant, one of the strongest creatures in nature or to a human being able to easilylift a 26-seated mini-bus. Before conducting further tests on animals and eventually on humans, the research teams are further developing and refining their research in three aspects, namely finding a biodegradable material, studying new shapes and adding extra features. The team hopes to create a biodegradable robot in the next two to three years, so it will decompose naturally after its meds delivery mission. Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk
First ever FDA approved augmented reality presurgical imaging tool
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ovarad HoloLens have collaborated to launch an OpenSight AR system which is the first ever FDA approved Augmented Reality pre-surgical imaging tool.The OpenSight runs on AR technology to give 2D, 3D and 4D patient images which can help doctors plan the surgery ahead more thoroughly as it gives dual side by side image, both of the patient as it is and their internals. Doctors can now use Microsoft HoloLens for specific, pre-operative purposes. The technology is going to be transformative as it will allow the doctors to have a full brief of the patients’ internals before they make the first incision.Novarad has also released the teaching version of OpenSight AR system to ease the medical students into the future. Students or other surgery attendees can witness the AR preparation first-hand, since the HoloLens experience can be shared among multiple headsets. No doubt FDA recognized Novarad’s efforts by clearing the OpenSight system for use. It is a complete medical package, designed to improve the precision and utility of medical practice. Source: https://www.healthimaging.com/.../fda-approvesaugmented-reality-system-microsoft-...
