#stomach #problems #swallow #robot
Intestinal mobility disorders are responsible for intestinal obstructions, accumulation of gas and liquids, bloating, abdominal distention… – Credit:ImageBroker.com/Sipa
At first glance, it appears to be a simple capsule, easy to swallow because it is barely larger than a paracetamol tablet. But inside hides a real little autonomous robot ready to deploy its large arms to travel through the digestive tract by clinging to its walls. Called Inspire, this incredible machine has just been presented in the magazine Science Robotics by a team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, United States. It was designed to treat “paralysis” of the intestine.
Our digestive tract is driven by muscular contractions allowing food to move from the mouth to the anus. This phenomenon, called peristalsis in scientific jargon, is therefore vital. But it happens that it is blocked, paralyzed, especially after abdominal surgery, when the intestines have been manipulated.
Simple and very ingenious
We then speak of postoperative ileus. It is precisely this problem and other intestinal motility disorders that American researchers wish to treat with Inspire. They are responsible for intestinal obstructions, accumulation of gas and fluids, bloating, abdominal distention, constipation, vomiting, nausea, etc.
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Infographics
The operation of the device is both simple and very ingenious. Its design consists of two arms which form an S 35 millimeters high by 30 millimeters wide. Each arm is […] Read more
