Miniaturized robots measuring just millimeters in size often struggle with insufficient energy to propel devices during endoscopic microsurgeries due to their diminutive physical stature. Researchers at Germany’s German Cancer Research Center are pioneering a novel approach by integrating multiple millimeter-sized TrainBots into a single unit and enhancing their “ft” capabilities, thereby enabling the first-ever experimental robotic convoy to successfully perform an electrical surgical procedure on a bile duct obstruction.
The potential applications of miniature robots in healthcare are vast, encompassing everything from precision drug delivery to sensory functions and minimally invasive surgeries. An arsenal of robots has been developed and thoroughly examined for a range of duties, spanning the nanometer to centimeter scales.
Despite their current capabilities, many AI-powered tools reach their limitations in numerous tasks. For instance, in endoscopic microsurgery. Are the necessary devices often too cumbersome for a solitary micrometer-sized robot to maintain its designated position? One significant limitation is that these robots often rely on cumbersome crawling motions to navigate their environments. Despite this, many physical structures’ surfaces are covered in a layer of mucus that proves slippery for robots, hindering their movement.
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Dresden, led by Tian Qiu, have devised a solution to these challenges through the development of TrainBot, a system that integrates multiple miniature robots. The models feature enhanced traction with upgraded anti-slip footings. Together, these devices are capable of carrying an endoscopic instrument. The TrainBot unit operates on Wi-Fi connectivity; a rotating magnetic field simultaneously controls the humanoid models. Magnetic management enables precise control over an aircraft’s rotation through effective manipulation. The exterior actuation and management system is engineered to operate at scales comparable to those found on the human body.
Researchers at Germany’s DKFZ in Dresden have leveraged their cutting-edge robotic convoy, comprising three advanced TrainBot units, to successfully mimic a complex surgical procedure. In cases where bile duct cancer occurs, the bile duct often becomes obstructed, leading to a potentially life-threatening accumulation of bile that can cause severe harm to those afflicted. The occlusion should be opened following an endoscopic analysis. Through a minimally invasive procedure, an adaptable endoscope is navigated through the mouth and into the small intestine before being guided into the bile duct. One significant challenge lies in navigating the endoscope across the sharp angle from the small intestine to the bile duct.
As the mission chief, Tian Qiu notes that it’s at this location where a diverse robotic convoy can truly showcase its capabilities. The company’s employees showcased their skills by using organs obtained from a pig at a distance. The robotic convoy demonstrated the capability to navigate and manipulate an endoscopic instrument, effectively conducting electrical tissue ablation procedures within the bile duct. As the tip of the wire electrode reaches the site, electrical voltage is triggered, gradually clearing tissue blockages through electrocauterization. The wire electrode, measuring 25 cm in length and approximately four times heavier than a standard TrainBot unit, was utilized for this procedure. “Following successful experiments, another TrainBot convoy can transport a catheter for fluidic drainage or drug administration,” notes Moonkwang Jeong, lead author of the study. “Given the promising results with TrainBots in organ models, we’re confident that we can develop teams of miniature robots to tackle additional tasks in endoscopic surgery.”
