Implantable microroBOT

Introduction

Small-scale medical robotics was born from a science fiction vision: shrinking down a group of surgeons and letting them swim to the brain to save a patient’s life. This vision calls for precision, efficiency in delivering force, and noninvasiveness.

Current Limitations

Conversely, the microrobots proposed so far are only able to perform drug or cell delivery. Furthermore, their capability to keep an active configuration is strictly dependent on the presence of a certain external stimulus.

Project Goals

In this ERC project, I aim to tackle these challenges by devising new actuation mechanisms, control, and imaging strategies allowing the microrobots to exert suitable forces and prolong their lifetime.

I-BOT Overview

I-BOT proposes the first generation of implantable microrobots featured by a multi-material structure including:

• A liquid perfluorocarbon core
• A shape memory polymers magnetic composite skin

By exploiting magnetic material programming, microrobots will be capable of multimodal locomotion under magnetic guidance. Upon target reaching, low intensity pulsed ultrasound and alternated magnetic fields will trigger:

1. Acoustic droplet vaporization
2. Magnetic hyperthermia

This will produce simultaneous volumetric expansion of the internal chamber and deformation of the surrounding skin to allow fitting the implant site.

Stability and Monitoring

Shape memory polymers will ensure shape locking upon removal of the triggering signals, thus providing a stable implant. Ultrasound acoustic phase analysis will allow microrobot tracking over the entire implant procedure and prolonged lesion monitoring upon implantation.

Validation Scenarios

The I-BOT approach will be validated in three relevant validation scenarios:

1. Ulcer filling
2. Vascular graft
3. Long-term tumoral lesion monitoring

This will demonstrate the flexibility of the approach and unveil the potentialities and the impact of implantable microrobots.

In Vivo Testing

As a final step, the most promising validation scenario will be tested in vivo in large animals, as a step forward in moving microrobots from the bench to the bedside.