Page 24 - Spring 2025 Electron

Industry News
Revolutionary Robot uses Ultrasound for early
Cancer Detection
A tiny robot that can take 3D scans deep within the
body using ultrasound has been developed by a
team of engineers, scientists and clinicians from
the universities of Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
It paves the way for a transformation in the diagnosis
and treatment of certain types of cancers by
enabling ‘virtual biopsies’ (non-invasive scans) that
provide immediate diagnostic data. This should then
enable doctors to detect, stage and potentially treat
lesions in a single procedure rather than requiring
physical biopsies.
The technology makes use of the relatively
uncommon 3D shape known as an oloid, which
provides the magnetic robot with a previously
impossible range of motion in the form of a roll,
enabling precise navigation and imaging within the
body. The result is a new kind of magnetic flexible
endoscope which is equipped with a small, high-
frequency imaging device that captures detailed 3D
images of internal tissues. This device takes the form
of a 28MHz micro-ultrasound array that creates a
high-resolution 3D reconstruction of the area that it
scans.
24
From this virtual reconstruction clinicians can create
cross-sectional images that mimic those generated
by a standard biopsy.
In testing an artificial colon was used with a
robotically controlled external permanent magnet,
a platform previously developed at Leeds University
which enables both joystick and autonomous control
of the oloid magnetic endoscope. Navigation was
assisted by images from an embedded camera and
a magnetic localisation system. The oloid magnetic
endoscope was 3D-printed from resin and has a
diameter of 21 millimetres. The robot could therefore
still roll, but was of a size and design that was suitable
for clinical applications.
Results showed that the system could successfully
perform controlled rolling and sweeping motions
inside the colon, generate high-resolution 3D
ultrasound scans for accurate diagnosis, and identify
lesions in gastrointestinal tissue, so demonstrating its
potential for advanced medical imaging and early
disease detection.
Human trials are due to commence in June 2026.
Pietro Valdastri, Professor and Chair in Robotics and
Autonomous Systems, and Director of the Science
and Technologies of Robotics in Medicine (STORM)
Lab in Leeds, who also coordinated the research,
states:
“ For the first time, this research enables us to
reconstruct a 3D ultrasound image taken from a
probe deep inside the gut, something that has
never been done before. This approach enables
in-situ analysis and diagnosis of colorectal cancer,
with immediate results. The process of diagnosing
colorectal cancer currently requires a tissue
sample to be removed, then sent to a lab, with
results taking from one to three weeks. “
Postgraduate researcher Nikita Greenidge from the
School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the
University of Leeds, and a member of the STORM lab,
adds:
“ By combining our advanced robotics with
medical ultrasound imaging, we take this
innovation one step ahead of traditional
colonoscopy, allowing doctors to diagnose and
treat in a single procedure, eliminating the wait
between diagnosis and intervention.
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes
or cancer-related deaths in the UK and globally,
but if detected early is treatable. This research
presents a new approach that could significantly
improve early diagnosis with a minimally invasive
approach, and could also, in future, facilitate
targeted ultrasound-triggered drug delivery for
more effective treatment. “
Reference: Miles, S., ‘Mini rolling Robot takes Virtual Biopsies’,
Electronic Specifier, 28th. March
Become a member: https://membermojo.co.uk/ie
Become a subscriber: https://membermojo.co.uk/subscriber
Become a sponsor: https://membermojo.co.uk/sponsor
FURTHER
DEVELOPMENTS
IN ROBOTICS
New Robotic Material mimics Biological
Processes
Researchers at Santa Barbara and TU Dresden have
developed a proof-of-concept robotic material
that mimics biological processes, allowing it to shift
between rigid and fluid states.
Inspired by embryonic developments, the technology
represents a step towards the creation of adaptable, along each unit’s exterior, which allow robots to
self-assembling robotic structures with robots able to
behave more like a material. push off each other so as to navigate tightly packed
spaces. The equivalent of biochemical signalling
The robotic system is composed of individual, disk- was achieved through a global coordination system
shaped autonomous robots which can assemble that uses light sensors and polarised filters, while
into various formations that display different adhesion was achieved by incorporating magnets
material properties. This system as a result could into each robot’s perimeter that could be switched on
be both strong and stiff, yet capable of flowing into or off such that the collective could bind together or
new configurations. Thus, whilst traditional robotic separate as required.
systems respond to external forces, this system reacts Signal fluctuations proved to be especially useful
to internal signals in order to reshape itself. It can take
a shape and hold it, or it can selectively flow itself into in shaping the robotic material’s behaviour. By
adjusting inter-unit forces and signal fluctuations the
a new shape.
team could control whether the collective remained
The development builds on the work of Otger rigid or fluid. Increasing both, especially fluctuations,
Campas, a former UC Santa Barbara professor who produced a more flowing material. Then, once in
now leads the Physics of Life Excellence Cluster at TU formation, switching off the force fluctuations made
Dresden. His research on embryonic tissue revealed the collective rigid.
that developing organisms exhibit unique material
behaviours. In particular they are able to self-shape, Reference: West, P., ‘Researchers develop self-forming Robotic
Material’, Electronic Specifier, 26th. February
self-heal, control their material strength in space
and time, and transform between fluid and solid
states. This latter property enables cells to reorganise Soft-bodied Robot for Disaster Recovery
themselves and form distinct structures such as
limbs and organs. Researchers at Penn State University have
developed a miniature soft-bodied robot designed
The key biological forces involved are namely
to crawl through rubble in disaster zones, as well
active forces (cells applying forces to each other), as being able to travel inside the human body to
biochemical signalling (coordinating movement in
deliver drugs and collect medical data.
space and time), and cell adhesion (binding together
to maintain structural integrity). Incorporation of With its soft, flexible construction the robot mimics
the adaptability of living organisms, enabling it
these into robotics allowed for the creation of a
system that could change shape dynamically. to squeeze into tight, irregular spaces where rigid
robots or human tools could not. Flexible electronics
In the robotic material, the equivalent of intracellular were embedded within the flexible body such that
forces was achieved using eight motorised gears
25
Become a member: https://membermojo.co.uk/ie
Become a subscriber: https://membermojo.co.uk/subscriber
Become a sponsor: https://membermojo.co.uk/sponsor