This Tiny Robot Could Revolutionize Kidney Stone Treatment скачать в хорошем качестве

This Tiny Robot Could Revolutionize Kidney Stone Treatment

What if kidney stones could be dissolved — not surgically removed — by a magnetically controlled micro-robot? That’s the promise of new research led by University of Waterloo, where scientists have built soft, enzyme-loaded robots that can navigate the urinary tract and dissolve stones in lab models. These small robots — just a few millimeters long — combine hydrogel materials with embedded urease enzyme and micromagnets. When placed near a stone, the robots locally increase pH, gradually dissolving solid deposits until they’re small enough to pass naturally. In 3D-printed urinary tract models filled with synthetic urine, the devices raised pH from ~6 to ~7 and reduced stone mass by ~30% over 5 days — a result that may help avoid surgery in certain cases. Yet the technology is early. Real human trials haven’t begun. Some challenges remain: controlling motion through complex anatomy, ensuring safety, scaling precision, and integrating imaging feedback. Still, this work offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of minimally invasive urology. No incisions, no lasers — just smart robots doing the heavy lifting from inside. If successful, this tech could reduce pain, recovery time, and healthcare costs — especially for recurrent stone sufferers. #MedicalInnovation #Robotics #HealthTech #KidneyStones #Urology #Bioengineering #SoftRobots #ScienceNews #FutureMedicine