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A team of researchers led by Dr. Eric Diller from the University of Toronto has developed tiny, magnet-powered robotic tools that could revolutionise brain surgery. Published in Science Robotics, the study describes how these 3-millimetre-wide instruments could allow surgeons to perform complex brain procedures through a small incision, avoiding the need to open the skull.
These micro-tools — including a scalpel, gripper, and forceps — are controlled by magnetic fields generated from a specialised surgical table equipped with electromagnetic coils. By adjusting the current in the coils, surgeons can precisely control the tools’ movements, enabling them to cut, grip, and pull tissue with remarkable dexterity, even mimicking the range of motion of a human wrist.
In pre-clinical tests, the researchers demonstrated that the magnetic scalpel could make cuts as narrow as 0.3 to 0.4mm—far more precise than those made with traditional surgical instruments. The gripper also performed well, successfully targeting tissue 76% of the time.
While these early results are promising, the technology is still years away from clinical use. The team is now working on adapting the system for real-world operating rooms and ensuring compatibility with medical imaging equipment. If successful, this innovation could mark the beginning of a new era in minimally invasive brain surgery.
