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Researchers have successfully developed a miniature magnetic robot capable of conducting three-dimensional scans from deep inside the body, potentially transforming early cancer detection methods.
The project, spearheaded by engineers at the University of Leeds, represents a significant advancement in generating high-resolution 3D ultrasound images from within the gastrointestinal tract for the first time.
This breakthrough may significantly alter the diagnosis and treatment landscapes for various cancer types by allowing for ‘virtual biopsies.’ These non-invasive scans can offer immediate diagnostic results, enabling healthcare professionals to detect, assess, and potentially treat lesions in one session, thus eliminating the need for conventional biopsies.
The success of the project can be attributed to the innovative use of the oloid—an unconventional 3D shape that grants this magnetic medical robot a previously unattainable movement known as the roll, critical for effective navigation and imaging within the body.
A study published today in Science Robotics details how the research team incorporated the oloid shape and its distinctive rolling motion into a new magnetic flexible endoscope (MFE), which integrates a compact, high-frequency imaging device to generate detailed 3D images of internal tissues.
This technology is the result of collaborative efforts among engineers, scientists, and medical professionals from the University of Leeds, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Edinburgh. The Leeds team was responsible for the robotics development and probe integration, while Glasgow and Edinburgh contributed to the ultrasound probe and imaging components.
Professor Pietro Valdastri, who leads the STORM Lab, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of this research. He stated, “For the first time, we can reconstruct a 3D ultrasound image from a probe situated deep inside the gut—an achievement that has not been accomplished until now.”
“This technique facilitates in-situ analysis and diagnosis of colorectal cancer, providing immediate results. Currently, diagnosing this type of cancer involves taking a tissue sample that must be sent to a lab, which can take between one to three weeks for results,” he added.
The imaging device used—a 28 MHz micro-ultrasound array—creates high-resolution 3D images of the scanned area. Clinicians can derive cross-sectional images from these virtual reconstructions, closely resembling those obtained from traditional biopsies, where tissue samples are sliced and examined under a microscope.
This method of high-frequency, high-resolution ultrasound differs from the more common ultrasound techniques typically used for monitoring fetuses or internal organs. The probe utilized in this study allows for observations at a microscopic level, providing detailed insights down to the layer of tissue.
While 3D ultrasound imaging has been achievable in blood vessels and the rectum, this new development opens up future possibilities for deeper applications within the gastrointestinal tract.
Nikita Greenidge, a postgraduate researcher at the STORM Lab and lead author of the paper, noted, “By merging our sophisticated robotics with medical ultrasound imaging, we advance beyond traditional colonoscopy. This allows for diagnosing and treating within the same procedure, consequently reducing diagnosis-to-intervention wait times, minimizing repeat procedures, and alleviating patient anxiety related to unknown cancer diagnoses.”
Funding for this research came from various organizations, including the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the European Commission (EC), the European Research Council (ERC), and the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre. The study revealed that the application of the oloid shape—constructed from two intersecting perpendicular circles—remarkably improved the dexterity, diagnostic capability, and autonomy of magnetic flexible endoscopes and similar medical robots.
The oloid magnetic endoscope (OME), cleverly 3D printed from resin and approximately 21 mm in diameter (comparable to a 1p coin), is designed to roll effectively, offering a practical size for clinical procedures such as colonoscopy. Tests on various surfaces imitating the anatomy of the colon, esophagus, and stomach further evaluated its movement.
To progress towards human clinical trials, researchers conducted examinations in an artificial colon, followed by trials involving pigs, which is a necessary prerequisite for gaining regulatory approval for medical devices. The team employed a robotically controlled external permanent magnet to facilitate both joystick and autonomous operations of the OME, supported by imaging from an embedded camera and a magnetic localization system. The outcomes demonstrated that this system could…
Ms. Greenidge remarked that while this specific research focused on the colon, the rolling mechanics of the oloid shape might extend to various other magnetic medical robots, broadening its potential applications within the body.
Moving forward, the team aims to compile all necessary data to initiate human trials, with an eye towards starting as early as 2026. The existing Leeds platform for robotic colonoscopy, lacking ultrasound capabilities, is already in human trials and is being commercialized by Atlas Endoscopy, a student-started enterprise emerging from the STORM Lab.
The Science Behind Magnetic Robots
Magnetic fields are particularly suited for medical applications due to their ability to penetrate human tissue harmlessly, thus enabling the remote manipulation of diminutive surgical robots. Precision navigation and imaging inside the body depend heavily on controlled rolling and sweeping motions. However, conventional cylindrical robots face challenges in achieving roll with external magnetic influence.
Cylindrical magnetic robots are limited to five degrees of freedom in motion, hampering 3D scanning capabilities that necessitate a rolling maneuver. Although gravity could facilitate rolling down a slope, external magnetic forces cannot achieve this with cylindrical or spherical objects. The introduction of the oloid shape resolves this limitation, as its geometry naturally supports a rolling motion while coupling it with vertical and lateral movements. The unique design, lacking symmetry around a central axis, allows external magnets to apply torque within the body, facilitating the required roll.
Ms. Greenidge highlighted, “Our research opens up new potential for interdisciplinary approaches in medical robotics, showing that mathematical concepts like simple geometry can address critical healthcare issues.”
Professor Sandy Cochran from the Centre for Medical and Industrial Ultrasonics at the University of Glasgow, who oversaw the ultrasound component of the research, added, “Ultrasound imaging is a safe and cost-effective technique that can be specifically applied where necessary. This collaborative effort, integrating medical ultrasound imaging with advanced robotics, aims to drive transformative shifts in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.”
The research team believes their advancements could fundamentally reshape endoscopy. This would enable endoscopists to concentrate on crucial diagnostic and therapeutic decisions while leaving routine navigation tasks to autonomous systems.
In addition, they contend that the OME’s enhanced capabilities could help address existing gender disparities in colonoscopy procedures, as traditional flexible endoscopy often poses greater challenges for women, resulting in higher rates of incomplete examinations.
Jane Nicholson, Executive Director of Research at EPSRC, remarked, “Innovative technological developments are facilitating the creation of rapid, non-invasive solutions poised to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“By enhancing the precision and control of procedures pertaining to high incidence cancers like colorectal cancer, the joint efforts of this interdisciplinary team could lead to notable progress in cancer detection and management.”
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