MRI Powered Pill-Sized Robot Swims Through Intestines

kkleiner writes "Researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel and Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston have collaborated to create a robot that can swim through the intestines. The size of a large pill, the 'microswimmer' is powered by the strong magnetic fields generated by an MRI machine. A tail measuring 20mm x 5mm made of copper and flexible polymer vibrates due to the magnets and propels the little microrobot through the gut."

TSA

[bonch]

In other news, the TSA has announced a new screening process involving rubber gloves and an intestinal robot. Americans should be very familiar with the procedure, as one merely has to bend over and take it.

Re:The matrix has me

[Ethanol-fueled]

I'm no MRI tech, but the hope is that there would be a low-power non-diagnostic routine to accommodate the little swimmer. The technology is only hype anyway, the article states that they tested it in a fish tank and haven't even tested it in a human. I doubt they'll have much success with it meandering successfully through the gut, and of course it will stop dead in its tracks when it hits that big wall of shit*.

*People who are active tend to defecate only once a day, with either hard pellets or spectacular stool length and thickness depending on how much fiber and coffee they consume.

Re:Does it tickle?

[swalve]

Only if it has a mustache.

Re:Crohns Disease

[SplashMyBandit]

> The most terrifying thing must be knowing (or not knowing) when the shit volcano is finally over.
Would that be Krapatoa ?

Unionize!

[owlnation]

Robots get all the shitty jobs!