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Researchers from the University of Leeds, together with the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh, have developed a tiny magnetic robot that can take detailed 3D ultrasound scans from deep inside the gastrointestinal tract, which could help detect cancer much earlier and more easily.
They used a special shape called an oloid — made by connecting two circles at right angles — which allowed the robot to roll in a controlled way inside the body, something previous designs couldn’t do with magnetic fields alone. The team created a flexible magnetic endoscope equipped with a high-frequency micro-ultrasound probe that could capture high-resolution images, similar to what doctors usually see after taking a tissue biopsy, but without needing to physically remove tissue samples.
Led by Professor Pietro Valdastri and postgraduate researcher, the study showed successful tests first in an artificial colon and then in pig models, proving that the robot could navigate, scan tissues in 3D, and spot lesions accurately.
The project, published in Science Robotics, was supported by 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. Unlike normal ultrasound used during pregnancy or organ checks, the high-frequency ultrasound in this device reveals tiny details at the level of tissue layers, helping doctors to see very early changes linked to cancer.
The robot, about the size of a 1p coin, was 3D-printed out of resin and controlled by a robotic magnetic arm developed at Leeds, which could steer it precisely using joystick or autonomous modes while a camera and a magnetic tracking system helped with navigation.
