The Japanese have created a self-propelled bronchoscope

Grigory Kopiev, N+1

Japanese engineers have developed a self-moving robot for bronchoscopy. He is able to move independently due to peristaltic movement, as well as maneuver to move along the necessary branches of the bronchial tree.

You can watch the full video in the press release of A self-propelled catheter with earthworm-like peristaltic motion on the EurekAlert website! - VM

The development was presented at the conference The Robotics and Mechatronics Conference in Fukushima.

If various bronchial diseases are suspected, various diagnostic methods are used, including bronchoscopy. During this procedure, a bronchoscope equipped with a camera or manipulators for biopsy is inserted into the patient's respiratory tract, with which the doctor examines the surface of the bronchi. Since the bronchial tree consists of many tapering branches, choosing the right branch can be difficult, and the result of the procedure strongly depends on the skills of the doctor conducting it.

Japanese engineers decided to create a robotic tool for this procedure. Their robot bronchoscope consists of several chambers with air connected by a special tube with a device that controls the pressure in them. To move through the bronchi, these chambers are alternately inflated and deflated, due to which the robot moves like a worm.

The principle of robot movement (Hideyuki Tsukagoshi)

The engineers tested the operability of their development on a model of a bronchial tree, in which the robot demonstrated not only the ability to move, but also to choose branches of interest to researchers. The developers believe that such a robot will make it easier for doctors to perform bronchoscopy, as well as achieve the smallest branches during the procedure.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru