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posted by martyb on Friday May 12 2017, @08:53PM   Printer-friendly
from the passing-interest dept.

The final frontier is in your rear:

New research shows that an 18-mm magnetized capsule colonoscope, which can be paired with standard medical instruments, successfully performed intricate maneuvers inside the colon while guided by an external magnet attached to a robotic arm. Researchers believe this technology will reduce the potential discomfort of colonoscopies and lead to more people undergoing the life-saving screening test. [...] Researchers hope the capsule robot, which is inserted rectally, could be used safely and effectively in the future on humans to identify and remove pre-cancerous lesions and tumors detected during colonoscopy.

[...] Dr. Obstein and his team tested the capsule robot, which has a tether that is smaller in diameter than conventional endoscopes, 30 times in the colon of a pig. They reported that it successfully completed the maneuver of retroflexion, in which it bends backward to give the endoscopist a "reverse-view" of the colon wall, on its own (i.e. autonomously/autopilot) at the press of a button.

"Not only is the capsule robot able to actively maneuver through the GI tract to perform diagnostics, it is also able to perform therapeutic maneuvers, such as biopsies of tissue or polyp removal, due to the tether -- something that other capsule devices are unable to do," added Dr. Obstein. "Since the external magnet pulls the capsule robot with the tether segment from the front or head of the capsule, instead of a physician pushing the colonoscope from behind as in traditional endoscopy, we're able to avoid much of the physical pressure that is placed on the patient's colon -- possibly reducing the need for sedation or pain medication."

[Besides the obvious medical benefits, I had to run this story because it nearly writes its own jokes — have fun! --martyb]


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  • (Score: 5, Funny) by krishnoid on Friday May 12 2017, @09:55PM (1 child)

    by krishnoid (1156) on Friday May 12 2017, @09:55PM (#508873)

    It's a robot going up my fucking ass, and the only thoughts I will have are,

    "I'm paying good money for this."

    Wow, the future. Happy International Robot's Day!

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  • (Score: 2) by edIII on Saturday May 13 2017, @01:42AM

    by edIII (791) on Saturday May 13 2017, @01:42AM (#508941)

    You may think you are pretty funny right now. Dammit :)

    --
    Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.