Search

We review micro-systems with robotic aspects that are used in medical diagnosis and intervention. We describe the necessary components for a micro-robot and present the state of the art and gaps of knowledge. One of the great challenges in micro robots is the propulsion. Different propulsive strategies and specifically flagellar propulsion is evaluated in this chapter. We analyze the influence of the miniaturization on the micro-robot and try to estimate the future developments in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its emergence, modern robotics has empowered mankind to reach goals ranging from the hazardous to unfeasible. In the medical field, robots have ushered in an era of minimized invasiveness, improved accuracy, lessened patient trauma and shortened recovery periods. This chapter offers an overview of currently available medical robots and especially evaluates their technology-enabling capacities. Combination of significantly higher accuracy than conventional free-hand techniques with minimally invasive capability renders robotics an enabling technology. Obviously, dramatic dimensional changes in robots, to levels allowing for their introduction to the body for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, also designates them to an enabling technology. The few currently available surgical robots are categorized in this chapter according to their enabling potential, along with a presentation of a future micro-robot for in-body treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]