By Stephen Beech
Infertility could be treated using tiny robots, suggests a new study.
Magnetically driven robotic microscrews offer a high-tech solution for fallopian tube blockages, say scientists.
Infertility is estimated to affect more than 180 million people worldwide, with fallopian tube obstruction contributing to up to 67% of female infertility cases.
Now Chinese engineers have developed an innovative solution using a magnetically driven robotic microscrew to treat fallopian tube blockages.
Study author Dr. Haifeng Xu, of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), said: “This new technology offers a potentially less invasive alternative to the traditional surgical methods currently used to clear tubal obstructions, which often involve the use of conventional catheters and guidewires.”
Dr. Xu explained that the microrobot is made from non-magnetic photosensitive resin, coated with a thin iron layer to give it magnetic properties.
By applying an external magnetic field, the robot rotates, generating translational motion that enables it to navigate through a glass channel simulating a fallopian tube.
Dr. Xu said: “The robot successfully clears a cell cluster obstruction placed in the channel, mimicking a typical blockage in the female reproductive system.
“This magnetic control provides precise navigation through the delicate and narrow structures of the fallopian tube.”
He says the design of the microrobot is another “key innovation” as it has a screw-shaped body with a helical structure, a cylindrical central tube, and a disk-shaped tail.
Dr. Xu said: “The helix-shaped structure is crucial for propulsion, while the disk-shaped tail helps stabilize the robot’s motion.
“As the screw rotates, it generates a vortex field that helps push fragmented debris toward the tail, clearing the blockage more effectively.”
In tests, published in the journal AIP Advances, the microrobot showed both effectiveness and efficiency in clearing the simulated blockage, with the vortex created by the rotating screw propelling debris away from the obstruction.
The research team plans to make the microrobot smaller and more advanced in the future.
They also aim to test the robot in isolated organ models and incorporate in vivo imaging systems to track the microrobot’s movement and position in real-time.
The team also wants to expand the robot’s applications in surgery, including automatic control systems that could enhance the efficiency of blockage removal and other medical procedures.
Dr. Xu added: “The ultimate goal is to provide a more effective, minimally invasive solution for patients suffering from infertility.”
