New Robot Glides Through Intestines

TechFreep writes to mention a NewScientist article about a new mucus-riding robot, intended for use in medical examinations of the intestinal tract. The snail-like bot, it is hoped, will be easier on the internal organs of patients than similar robots which use small leg-like structures. From the article: "Dodou is testing a polymer material that clings to proteins found in the mucus that lines the gut. She measured the polymer's sticky properties in the lab using sections of pig gut, and also examined the way the polymer's stickiness can be 'switched off' by spraying it with water. This could allow a robot to move in a manner similar to a snail, which alternately makes itself sticky and slippery by exerting pressure with its body."

Too easy

[sokoban (142301)]

Someone doing intestinal research named Dodou. Come on at least make it a little bit more difficult for the peanut gallery than that

Re:

[Courageous (228506)]

Funny? You call dat funny.

My wife, a physician, has a coworker. While I do not know how to spell his last name, I am quite sure it's pronounced "Kills". "Hello, Dr. Kills, here's the schedule for your surgery." A surgeon named kills. Easy fodder for the Peanut gallery, but what can I say?

C//

Re:

[buswolley (591500)]

There isn't one intelligent, non ass-joke based post for this article.

SHIT.

Re:

[Memnos (937795)]

I periodically experiment with my own mucus-riding robot. It's a tiny thing, composed of an exostruture and programming code within. I've named it "rhinitus".

Re:Too easy

[Fear the Clam (230933)]

If the robot's going to through the intestines undigested, "peanut" would be a good name too.

It looks like

[hyperbotfly (934309)]

They found a new application for olestra.

For the first time...

[Psionicist (561330)]

... an embedded device that deserves to run Microsoft Windows!

Re:

[apharmdq (219181)]

Dude, that's not such a hot idea. All it needs to do is fail its WGA check just once, and then you get to experience the adventure of installing a valid copy of Windows on a snail somewhere in the vicinity of your colon.

Re:

[by Anonymous Coward]

right... and since it already exploits a "back door" we can call it "W32/anal.worm"

Re:

[fbjon (692006)]

So... how to root the machine?

Next stop: Parasites Lost

[fahrbot-bot (874524)]

Pretty soon, we'll just make miniature robotic versions of doctors and control the micro-droids using virtual reality gear! I can see the senario now...

To eliminate the worm infestation, the crew makes their way into Fry's bowel, and fights their way to the pelvic splanchnic ganglion, intending to cause a massive bowel movement:

• Farnsworth: If we can stimulate that nerve, the bowel will convulse, expelling the entire worm society.
• Hermes: But what about the worms in the other parts of his body?
• Farnsworth: Listen, this is gonna be one hell of a bowel movement. Afterwards he'll be lucky if he has any bones left.

tagged "headlinesineverwantedtoread"

[bunions (970377)]

right up there with "Giants trade Bonds, Snow for Carrot-Top" and "Heat-seeking flying lizards swarm city"

Someone write in and....

[kbox (980541)]

Tell Dodou, Things "glide through the intestines" pretty well on thier own already.

Re:Someone write in and....

[Kizor (863772)]

That only serves to prove that you've never been subjected to a colonoscopy gone wrong.
 
Which, from the patient's point of view, always happens.

It sounds a bit uncomfortable, but....

[CFD339 (795926)]

...as the old man always says...

This too shall pass, in the end.

asdf

[falsified (638041)]

"New Robot Glides Through Intestines"

Lucky robot :(

Dupe?

[ackthpt (218170)]

"New Robot Glides Through Intestines" Lucky robot :(

Must be high in fibre... fibre optics that is.

Isn't this story a dupe?> [slashdot.org]

Update your AV

[DittoBox (978894)]

A new virus has been discoverd: W32.e-tapeworm.

Do you guys mind?

[QuantumG (50515)]

I'm trying to eat lunch here.

Say it with me everyone:

[by Anonymous Coward]

Wiiiii!

Sounds like an interesting concept for a game. Think of what kind of franchises this could... erm, spawn.

PooRaider
Ridged Racer
Intestine Coaster Tycoon
Metal Gear Solids
"Quake"

Improvement

[Tablizer (95088)]

Anybody who has ever had a doctor shove one of those 20-foot metal hose snakes up their ass to look around will welcome such robots. I for one welcome our ass-dwelling robotic overlords. Better than the snakes they replace.

One-use?

[phorm (591458)]

I wonder how much these cost? I'm guessing they aren't that cheap to produce, but I don't see them being very re-usable as one thing worse than having some robot go happily up your ass and then slip-sliding through your intestinal-tract is having one that's already been up somebody else's ass.

I mean, while some people might find this more convenient than other methods if it were a one shot-deal... but I'm also wondering on how the disinfect these suckers afterwords.

Cool tech, but... yuck!

Re:Um..

[Quadraginta (902985)]

Just you wait, sonny. When you turn 55 or so, your other choice is to have the doc stick a fat periscope up there to take a look, screen you for bowel cancer. Bring on the robots, I say.

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[Walt Dismal (534799)]

I've always wondered what it would feel like to have a worm-like creature up my ass.

1) Sadly, those were that last words of Billy-Bob Hinkley, of Fallen Springs, Alabama, one fateful night in April when he was drinking far too much Everclear when the aliens landed.

2) it's far better than a robot gerbil

3) this will NEVER replace the XBox 360 as a means of entertainment

4) the first experimental model was powered by an internal-combustion engine with a snorkel, but the Patent Office rejected the patent,

Re:

[Orange Crush (934731)]

For my masters project, I worked on a snake-like robotic arm.

What did your master use the robot arm for?