A tiny robot which can take 3D scans from inside the human body is bringing fresh hope for earlier cancer detection.
A University of Leeds research team said they had been able to generate high-resolution 3D images taken from deep inside the gastrointestinal tract for the first time.
This paved the way to a new diagnosis and treatment of several forms of cancer by enabling “virtual biopsies” – non-invasive scans that provide immediate diagnostic data.
The research report said this could allow doctors to detect, stage and potentially treat lesions in a single procedure, eliminating the need for physical biopsies.
A paper, published last week in Science Robotics said the mini robot was developed through a collaboration between engineers, scientists, and clinicians from the University of Leeds, the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh.
The University’s Chair in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Pietro Valdastri, said the team was able to probe the gut in a way that had not been possible before.
“This approach enables in-situ tissue analysis and diagnosis of colorectal cancer, with immediate results,” he said.
“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.”
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths but is treatable if detected early.
The full report is on the University of Leeds website.
