MIT develops snake-inspired soft robot to help diagnose small intestine disorders

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a soft robotic device that could help doctors examine and treat disorders of the small intestine, an organ that is difficult to access using conventional medical instruments.

The device, called a bioinspired soft enteroscopic robot, is designed to move through the intestine using a mechanism inspired by snakes. It can carry out imaging, collect tissue samples for biopsies and deliver drugs to targeted areas, according to research published in the journal Science Robotics on Oct 28.

The technology could eventually help doctors investigate intestinal bleeding, lesions, blockages and other abnormalities. However, it remains at the preclinical research stage and has not yet been tested in humans.

How the snake-inspired robot works

The small intestine is more than 20 feet long, approximately an inch in diameter and located deep within the digestive system. Its narrow passage and slippery inner lining make it challenging for medical instruments to navigate.

The MIT team designed the robot to move through this environment by bending and extending its flexible body. Its movement is controlled by inflatable chambers that can be filled with air in different combinations, allowing the device to change direction.

The robot also has expandable sections at its front and rear that anchor it against the intestinal lining. These sections use specially patterned sleeves inspired by snake scales and kirigami, a technique involving cutting and folding materials to create three-dimensional structures.

When the sections expand, small projections emerge from the sleeves, increasing their grip on the slippery surface. The anchoring mechanism helps the robot move forward without relying on excessive stretching of the delicate intestinal tissue.

An external controller allows an operator to steer the device through narrow passages and around bends. The robot remains connected to external equipment by a cable.

Robot performs biopsies and drug delivery in animal studies

The device contains a camera for imaging, a sprayer for delivering fluids or drugs, and clips that can collect tissue samples or remove small polyps.

During animal studies, researchers demonstrated that the robot could travel approximately 6.5 feet through the small intestine. They also successfully tested its imaging, biopsy and fluid-delivery capabilities.

The researchers are now working to improve its navigation system and explore additional applications within the small intestine.

Giovanni Traverso, an MIT professor of mechanical engineering and a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, is the study's senior author. The research also involved Binbin Ying, Ahmad Mujtaba Jebran and Sahab Babaee.

Could the robot improve existing intestinal examinations?

Doctors currently use a procedure called double-balloon enteroscopy to examine parts of the small intestine that are difficult to reach. The technique uses two balloons that are alternately inflated and deflated to advance an endoscope through the intestinal tract.

Although effective, the procedure can be slow and technically demanding. The MIT team aims to develop a system that could make examination of the small intestine easier to navigate and more automated.

If further research establishes its safety and effectiveness, the robotic device could eventually assist doctors in diagnosing intestinal conditions and carrying out targeted interventions during the same procedure.

However, additional engineering development and safety testing will be necessary before the technology can be evaluated in human patients.