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μTUM Microrobots

Introduction:
Purdue's most recent invention is a back flipping robot that can travel through the human colon without a battery or power source. This tiny robot, which is less than a millimeter in length, is powered via an electromagnetic force that creates a rotational torque on the microbot by rotating a magnet. By flipping the axis of rotation of the magnet the robot is capable of another dimension of movement (The robot is able to flip sideways and lengthwise). In order to locate the flipping microbot in the patient's organ the researchers have developed a high frequency (greater than 10 Megahertz) ultrasound tracking system that allows the operator to precisely locate the device.(Niedart et al., 2020)

Scientific Concepts:
The μTUM microbots are controlled via a magnetic field because they operate without a battery or hardwired power source. The nickel coated ends of the robot interact with a rotating magnet to achieve two dimensional motion. The robot can flip lengthwise and widthwise depending on the orientation of the magnet. When activated, the magnet exerts an external torque on the robot that is mapped by: “T⃗ m=VmM⃗ ×B⃗ where Vm is the magnetic volume of the robot, M⃗ is the microbot’s magnetization and B⃗  is the strength of the external magnetic field.” (Bi et al., 2020) When the robot is lying horizontally the greatest magnet force is achieved if the magnet is oriented perpendicularly to the microbot. These microbots can tackle dry, wet, steep, and coare terrain. Since the μTUM robots have no power source they cannot indicate where they are in the subject; this required the researchers to use ultrasound imaging to detect the robot. This imaging technique was chosen because it does not create a magnetic field that could possibly disturb the robot.(Niedart et al., 2020)

Construction:
The magnetic μTUM microbots were designed and developed at Purdue University by researchers: “Chenghao Bi, Elizabeth E. Niedert, Georges Adam, Elly Lambert, Luis Solorio, and David J. Cappelleri”. The microbots are constructed from SU-8,a negative epoxy resists, and polydimethylsiloxane, a “silicon based natural polymer”(Bi et al., 2020). The microbot is shaped like a flashdrive constructed out of SU-8 particles, with both ends of the microbot coated in NbFeB particles. This construction creates two polar fields on either end of the magnet allowing it to tumble when a magnetic force is applied. The rectangular shape of the microbot gives it a higher coefficient of static friction which allows it to climb steep surfaces and makes the robot lighter than a cylindrical model. In order to administer medicine the robot is coated with the treatment and releases it slowly while it flips through the subject’s body.(Bi et al., 2020)

Benefits(impact):
The magnetic μTUM microbots will serve as an alternative to traditional invasive procedures, such as colonoscopies. Due to the precision achieved by ultrasound imaging, doctors can accurately administer medicine.(Wiles, K., 2020.) Accurately delivering medicine decreases side effects like hair loss and bleeding that is common of these treatments. In addition, the miniature size of these robots makes traditionally strenuous procedures harmless and simple.

References:
Service, P., 2020. All-Terrain Microrobot Flips Through A Live Colon. [online] Purdue.edu. Available at:  [Accessed 19 October 2020].

Niedart, E., Bi, C., Adam, G., Solorio, L., Goergen, C. and Cappelleri, D., 2020. A Tumbling Magnetic Microrobot System For Biomedical Applications. [online] micromachines. Available at:  [Accessed 17 October 2020].

Wiles, K., 2020. All-Terrain Microrobot Flips Through A Live Colon. [online] ScienceDaily. Available at:  [Accessed 18 October 2020].

Bi, C., Guix, M., Johnson, B., Jing, W. and Cappelleri, D., 2020. Design Of Microscale Magnetic Tumbling Robots For Locomotion In Multiple Environments And Complex Terrains. [online] micromachines. Available at:  [Accessed 29 October 2020].