A group of scientists believe they ’ve find a style to improve the colonoscopy experience — and it involves a putz that looks like a scientific discipline fiction motion picture prop . AsThe Vergereports , the easy biomimetic robot could potentially make colon cancer screenings good and more well-heeled .
With its pliable , segmented eubstance , the machine looks like a caterpillar . If you watch the video below , you ’ll see it moves like one too . But investigator at theUniversity of Colorado - Boulderwould distinguish you their invention ’s resemblance to a creepy - crawly worm is n’t intentional . The wriggling bm are or else meant to mirror those of the big bowel .
When the robot is inserted into the rectum , an electrical current heats up the springs in its interior . These springs are made from a special shape - memory alloy that regains its original flesh when exposed to heating . This causes the bot to expand ; cool air and the silicon outer layer help it retract . Scientists use this constricting and relax rhythm to edge the gadget through the colon , while a camera bond to the end provides them with an versed view for espy polyps .
Current colonoscopies involve conciliatory television camera pipe that require a bit of push to get around tight curves . This can be uncomfortable for the patient , and it can also lead to bowel perforation asmall percentageof the prison term . About athird of adultsover 50 cut their recommended Costa Rican colon cancer screenings , and the apprehensiveness associate with the procedure may be to blame .
The CU Boulder team designed the diffused robot to help make colonoscopy a little less harrowing . The ware is in the epitome phase , but after get to some improvements , the researcher want to get it into hospital where patient will hopefully be more open to using it — as long is they can get past the worm comparisons .
[ h / tThe Verge ]
