Robotic thread for vessels

2019: The beginning of use in hospitals

At the end of August, 2019 it became known that hospitals began to use the magnetomanaged threadlike robot who is capable to slide actively on narrow twisting vessels. The robotic thread developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) integrates with the existing endovascular technologies and allows doctors to direct far off the robot on brain vessels for fast treatment of such defeats as aneurysms and strokes.

Researchers of MIT integrated work on hydrogels (biocompatible materials on the basis of water) and the magnetic activated materials. Thus they created the magnetic managed robotic thread with a hydrogel covering. Its core is provided nitinoly, the flexible material allowing to carry out thread through vessels, and the hydrogel covering contains the mesmerized particles. Hydrogel in turn allows to carry out thread through narrower vessels that will become key advantage of this invention.

Hospitals began to use robotic thread which cleans brain vessels

Researchers showed the accuracy of robotic thread, having carried out it through a number of obstacles using a large magnet. They also checked thread on the silicone copy of the main blood vessels of a brain full-scale which included the clots and aneurysms simulated on the basis of a computer tomography of a brain of the patient. The command filled silicone vessels with the liquid imitating blood and then manually carried out it using a magnet on model of twisting vessels.

Robotic thread can be also used for delivery of trombolitik or for elimination of blood clots by the laser. Besides, the magnetic managed conductor eliminates need to physically push it through blood vessels of the patient. Thanks to it doctors do not need to be in close proximity to the patient and radiological installation any more that will significantly reduce their radiation.^[1]

The new technology began to be put already into practice in several clinics of the USA.

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