The Future of Everything The future of robotic surgery
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Jan 10, 2025 Renee Zhao, a Stanford mechanical engineering professor, is at the forefront of robotic surgery with her innovative millibots. These magnet-controlled, millimeter-scale soft robots aim to navigate the bloodstream for medical repairs like removing clots and treating brain aneurysms. Zhao discusses the exciting potential of soft robotics, drawing inspiration from octopuses, and the challenges of miniaturization. She also highlights the balance needed between design and functionality to revolutionize healthcare through advanced surgical techniques.
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Stroke Treatment Bottleneck
- Renee Zhao highlighted the need for faster stroke treatment, citing mechanical thrombectomy.
- This procedure requires highly skilled doctors, of which Stanford, a busy West Coast site, only has four or five.
Octopus-Inspired Robotics
- Soft robotics draws inspiration from nature, such as the octopus, whose arms contain two-thirds of its neurons.
- This distributed intelligence allows for complex movement and decision-making within the flexible appendage itself.
Millirobot Capabilities
- Zhao's team developed a 2mm diameter millirobot that can swim in blood vessels at 30 cm/second.
- This speed allows it to navigate against blood flow, crucial for targeted treatment.