Neurosurgeons might soon be able to deploy tiny robots into the bodies of human patients to assist with life saving surgeries. Microscopic nanorobots, smaller than a blood cell, have been used in rabbits to successfully deliver a medication to blood vessels damaged by aneurysms.
This scientific breakthrough could well pave the way for stents and coils used today in human brains to become a thing of the past.
The Nanorobots
An aneurysm occurs when the wall of an artery weakens and can no longer handle the rapid coursing of blood it carries. The blood will work against the weak spot and cause the side of the artery to balloon out. At some point, the artery wall will burst from the pressure and will lead to significant brain damage and even death.
The nanorobots used in the rabbits were used to deliver drugs at the point of the aneurysm so that the weakened area would be blocked from blood flow, thus stopping it from bursting.
The tiny life-saving devices measure only 295 nanometers in diameter, three times smaller than the diameter of the most common forms of bacteria. Using a heat seeking technology to locate the aneurysm, the nanorobot parks there until its coating melts and enables the release of the medication.
Thrombin
The medication that the nanorobots dispense is called thrombin. Thrombin will react with the blood cells and make them clot together in order to avoid the artery walls from bursting.
While it’s yet to be tested in humans, the process that medical providers will use to deploy the nanorobots have pretty much been spelled out by researchers that published their findings in the September edition of the medical journal Small.
Surgery
Once an aneurysm has been located, a cardiovascular surgeon will find a spot close to it to release the nanobots in the patient’s bloodstream.
The nanorobots will be injected into the blood vessels using a microcatheter, which lowers risks as this keeps the medical team from having to go too deep into the recipient’s brain.
Charles R
Amazing. Fantastic Voyage becoming real, however nanobots replacing people.
Ron S
As far as I know, we’ve already had serious issues related to vaccines that resulted in deaths from formations of unusual fibrous clots recently discovered by embalmers. I personally won’t be risking my life to experimental medical practices that don’t have anyone to hold accountable in case things go south (but to each their own).
Imo there are likely more problems diagnosed due to a lack of blood flow, plaque buildup and hardening of the arteries as a result of over processed foods and the unnecessary ingredients, and Lord knows what else… Also the lack of exercise with people more stimulated by screens and medications versus actually getting outside (with most us subjecting ourselves to further unnecessary handicaps of electrical or motorized devices of travel once we get there).
It sure seems like the movie Wall-E had a good idea where humanity might be heading with its depiction of the “Fitless Humans”. Real living isn’t through a screen, you may look back and realize that one day.
You’d think science and media would spend more time and money on more serious or current pressing issues and we’d be more advised on health before we actually need medical attention, instead of being subjected to adds for sugary and high cholesterol foods and paths or devices to more immobility… But if there’s no money in it I guess the biggest potential contributors don’t see it worth anything at all. It makes me wonder about who really has good intentions.
All the wrong things are becoming over marketed and over valued, while simultaneously we’re being flooded with the glamorization and increasing integration of nonsense and idiocy into our culture, which in turn may unknowingly get us to accept lesser good core values… I think at least. I know this sounds like a rant, and I think maybe that’s how you recognize when there’s a problem, when truth sounds a bit harsh and hopefully unblinding.
Charles R
A whole lot of truth in your post Ron S.
Blanche D
When your life depends on it you will try anything. You may even get involved in a trial for altruistic reasons as well as for your desire to live. I am happy to take vaccinations with a 0.001% chance of a blood clots, and would probs be dead today if it wasn’t for vaccinations, including the one I had last year for a dog bite. I think this potential technology is brilliant
