Medical marvel! This tentacled robot can increase the odds of surviving lung cancer ten times

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

robot tentacle may save your life lungs. A team of researchers based at the Science & Technologies Of Robotics In The Medicinal lab at the University Of Leeds have developed the robot tentacle and tested it on the lungs of a corpse. The tentacle can go 37 per cent deeper into the lungs, touch some of the most elusive bronchial tubes, detect cancer, and ‘kill’ cells at one go! According to a Euronews report, the tentacle is made from ultra-soft silicone. It measures 2.4 mm in diameter and is operated through magnetic energy. In an interview with Express Co Uk, the director of the STORM lab at the University of Leeds explained why this tentacle may be revolutionary for detecting lung cancer when it’s still curable. “The tentacles have the advantage of being specific to the anatomy, softer than the anatomy, and fully shape-controllable via magnetics,” he told the British tabloid. Although surgery can remove cancerous tissues and stall their growth (metastasis), in the process many non-affected tissues and organs may be harmed. The tentacles may lead to a more non-invasive screening/surgical procedure where doctors can target affected cells and leave healthy tissues alone. Dr Giovanni Pittiglio, who is a member of the research team told Express Co Uk, “Our goal was, and is, to bring curative aid with minimal pain. Remote magnetic actuation enabled us to do this using ultra-soft tentacles which can reach deeper while shaping the anatomy and reducing trauma.” The tentacles have not been applied to the lungs of the living yet. However, the researchers are collecting data, to start trials on patients battling lung cancer.

According to a 2022 report by the Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR),