Sunday, January 21, 2007

Fantastic Voyage: Departure 2009


A team of scientists is developing what they say will be the world's first -- if not nanobot at least a microrobot -- that can swim through the arteries and digestive system.

The scientists are designing the 250-micron device as -wide as two human hairs - to transmit images and deliver microscopic payloads to parts of the body where conventional surgery can not reach.

Because the device is so small and the procedures that it will perform are equally as minuscule, the researchers hope the device will reduce the risks normally associated with delicate surgical procedures.

Funded by the Australian Research Council, the team is tweaking larger versions of the device, and expects to have a working prototype later this year and a completed version by 2009.

Thanks to Shaun Saunders for the post

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