Scientists at the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab at ETH Zürich have developed a tiny magnetically-guided microbotdesigned to be embedded in the eye to perform precision surgery or to deploy precise amounts of drugs. The researchers demonstrated the viability of the technology in tests on rabbits.
The robots used in the procedure has a diameter of 285 µm. The magnetic microbots are powered using external magnetic fields. Known as the OctoMag, the robots can produce magnetic forces and torques in three dimensions. The robot is so small that it could be used to help dissolve clots in the vessels of the eye.
The size of autonomous microrobots has been historically limited by motors and propulsion devices. The OctoMaggets around this requirement by using an external magnetic control system that can guide a needle-injected device into the eye, eliminating the need to slice the eye open.
On a closer horizon, Folk says, “There's a great company called Replenish Inc. [Pasadena, CA] that has an implantable micropump. You place it right behind the eye, and it releases this drug over time. And what's incredible about their technology is they've integrated sensor, pump, and wireless technology, all in something about the size of 2 quarters stacked up. They've already done their first in man – they placed it behind the eye, and they released the drugs over time.”
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