NANOROBOTS

-The future nano surgeons

presented by:

N. prema chowdary M.A.deepthi

Third year ece Thirdyear ece
[email protected] [email protected]
ABSTRACT: We will address and propose the method of
Like primitive engineers faced with entry into the body, means of propulsion,
advanced technology, medicine must ‘catch means of maintaining a fixed position while
up' with the technology level of the human operating, control of the device, power
body before it can become really effective. source, means of locating substances to be
Since the human body is basically an eliminated, mans of doing the elimination
extremely complex system of interacting and how to remove the device from the body
molecules (i.e., a molecular machine), the afterward.
technology required to truly understand and NANOMEDICNE:
repair the body is molecular machine It is the application of nanotechnology
technology. A natural consequence of this (engineering of tiny machines) to the
level of technology will be the ability to prevention and treatment of disease in the
analyze and repair the human body as human bodys. More specifically, it is the use
completely and effectively as we can repair of engineered nanodevices and
any conventional machine today nanostructures to monitor, repair, construct
Nanotechnology is “Research and and control the human biological system on
technology development at the atomic, a molecular level. The most elementary of
molecular and macromolecular levels in the nanomedical devices will be used in the
length scale of approximately 1 -100 diagnosis of illnesses. A more advanced use
nanometer range, to provide a fundamental of nanotechnology might involve implanted
understanding of phenomena and materials devices to dispense drugs or hormones as
at the nanoscale and to create and use needed in people with chronic imbalance or
structures, devices and systems that have deficiency states. Lastly, the most advanced
novel properties and functions because of nanomedicine involves the use of
their small and/or intermediate size.” Nanorobots as miniature surgeons. Such
This paper will describe a micro/nano scale machines might repair damaged cells, or get
medical robot that is within the range of inside cells and replace or assist damaged
current engineering technology. It is intracellular structures. At the extreme,
intended for the treatment and/or elimination nanomachines might replicate themselves,
of medical problems where accumulation of or correct genetic deficiencies by altering or
undesired organic substances interferes with replacing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
normal bodily function. molecules.
In this paper, we will describe a NanoRobot
that can be created with existing Introduce the device into the body:
technology , that can be used to seek out and We need to find a way of introducing the
destroy inimical tissue within the human nanomachine into the body, and allowing it
body that cannot be accessed by other access to the operations site without causing
means. too much ancillary damage. We have
The construction and use of such devices already made the decision to gain access via
would result in a number of benefits. Not the circulatory system.
only would it provide either cures or at least The first is that the size of the nanomachine
a means of controlling or reducing the determines the minimum size of the blood
effects of a number of ailments, but it will vessel that it can traverse. We want to avoid
also provide valuable empirical data for the damaging the walls of whatever blood vessel
improvement and further development of the device is in, we also do not want to
such machines. Practical data garnered from block it much, which would either cause a
such operations at the microscopic level will clot to form, or just slow or stop the blood
allow the elimination of a number of false flow. What this means is that the smaller the
trails and point the way to more effective nanomachine the better. However, this must
methods of dealing with the problems
inherent in operation at that level.
 The first possibility is to allow the device to
be carried to the site of operations by means
of normal blood flow. There are a number of
requirements for this method . We must be
able to navigate the bloodstream; to be able
to guide the device so as to make use of the
blood flow. This also requires that there be
an uninterrupted blood flow to the site of
operations. In the case of tumors, there is
very often damage to the circulatory system
circulatory system
that would prevent our device from
passively navigating to the site. In the case
be balanced against the fact that the larger
of blood clots, of course, the flow of blood
the nanomachine the more versatile and
is dammed and thus our device would not be
effective it can be. This is especially
carried to the site without the capability for
important in light of the fact that external
active movement. Another problem with this
control problems become much more
method is that it would be difficult to remain
difficult if we are trying to use multiple
at the site without some means of
machines, even if they don't get in each
maintaining position, either by means of an
other's way.
anchoring technique, or by actively moving
The second consideration is we have to get it
against the current.
into the body without being too destructive
in the first place. This requires that we gain
access to a large diameter artery that can be
traversed easily to gain access to most areas

There are a number of means available for

active propulsion of our device.
1.Propeller:
An electric motor that fit within a cube
1/64th of an inch on a side is used . This is
probably smaller than we would need for
our preliminary microrobot. One or several
femoral artery of these motors could be used to power
of the body in minimal time. The obvious propellers that would push (or pull) the
candidate is the femoral artery in the leg. microrobot through the bloodstream. We
This is in fact the normal access point to the would want to use a shrouded blade design
circulatory system for operations that so as to avoid damage to the surrounding
require access to the bloodstream for tissues (and to the propellers) during the
catheters, dye injections, etc., so it will suit inevitable collisions
our purposes. 2.Cilia/flagellae:
we are using some sort of vibrating cilia
Move the device around the body:
We start with a basic assumption: that we
will use the circulatory system to allow our
device to move about. We must then
consider two possibilities: (a) carried to the
site of operations,(b) to be propelled
 sensors is practical. These would be used
(similar to those of a paramecium) to propel during actual operations, to allow the device
the device. A variation of this method would to distinguish between healthy and
be to use a fin-shaped appendage. While this
may have its attractions at the molecular
level of operation,
3.Crawl along surface:
Rather than have the device float in the
blood, or in various fluids, the device could
move along the walls of the circulatory
unwanted tissue.. Another important use for
system by means of appendages with
sensors is to be able to locate the position of
specially designed tips, allowing for a firm
the microrobot in the body. First we will
grip without excessive damage to the tissue.
examine the various possibilities for external
It must be able to do this despite surges in
sensors. These will be at least partially
the flow of blood caused by the beating of
external to the microrobot, and their major
the heart, and do it without tearing through a
purpose will be twofold. The first is to
blood vessel or constantly being torn free
determine the location of the operations site;
and swept away.
that is, the location of the clot, tumor or
whatever is the unwanted tissue. The second
purpose is to gain a rough idea of where the
microrobot is in relation to that tissue. This
information will be used to navigate close
enough to the operations site that short-
along the wall of vessel range sensors will be useful
For any of these techniques to be practical, (1).Ultrasonic:
they must each meet certain requirements: This technique can be used in either the
The device must be able to move at a active or the passive mode. In the active
practical speed against the flow of blood. mode, an ultrasonic signal is beamed into
The device must be able to move when the body, and either reflected back, received
blood is pooling rather than flowing on the other side of the body, or a
steadily. combination of both. The received signal is
The device must be able to move in surges, processed to obtain information about the
so as to be able to get through the heart material through which it has passed.
without being stuck, in the case of In the passive mode, an ultrasonic signal of
emergencies. a very specific pattern is generated by the
The device must either be able to react to microrobot. By means of signal processing
changes in blood flow rate so as to maintain techniques, this signal can be tracked with
position, or somehow anchor itself to the great accuracy through the body, giving the
body so as to remain unmoving while precise location of the microrobot at any
operating. time. The signal can either be continuous or
pulsed to save power, with the pulse rate
increasing or being switched to continuous
Movement of the device : if necessary for more detailed position
The next problem to consider is exactly how information.
to detect the problem tissue that must be (2).NMR/MRI:
treated. We need two types of sensors. This technique involves the application of a
Long-range sensors will be used to allow us powerful magnetic field to the body, and
to navigate to the site of the unwanted subsequent analysis of the way in which
tissue. We must be able to locate a tumor, atoms within the body react to the field.
blood clot or deposit of arterial plaque
closely enough so that the use of short-range
 will be used to do the final navigation.
When the device is within a short distance of
the operation site, these sensors will be used
to help it find the rest of the path, beyond
what the external sensors can do. The
second type of sensor will be used during
the actual operation, to guide the microrobot
MRI to the tissue that should be removed and
It usually requires a prolonged period to away from tissue that should not be
obtain useful results, often several hours, removed.
and thus is not suited to real-time (1).Chemical:
applications. While the performance can be Chemical sensors can be used to detect trace
increased greatly, the resolution is inherently chemicals in the bloodstream and use the
low due to the difficulty of switching large relative concentrations of those chemicals to
magnetic fields quickly, and thus, while it determine the path to take to reach the
may be suited in some cases to the original unwanted tissue. This would require several
diagnosis, it is of only very limited use to us sensors so as to be able to establish a
at present. chemical gradient, the alternative would be
(3).X-ray: to try every path, and retrace a path when
X-rays as a technique have their good points the blood chemicals diminish. While it is not
and bad points. On the plus side, they are difficult to create a solid-state sensor for a
powerful enough to be able to pass through given chemical, the difficulty increases
tissue, and show density changes in that greatly when the number of chemicals that
tissue. This makes them very useful for must be analyzed increases. Consequently,
locating cracks and breaks in hard, dense we would probably need a series of
tissue such as bones and teeth. On the other microrobots, one for each chemical, or at
hand, they go through soft tissue so much least a set of replaceable sensor modules
(2).Spectroscopic:
This would involve taking continuous small
samples of the surrounding tissue and
analyzing them for the appropriate
chemicals. This could be done either with a
high-powered laser diode or by means of an
electrical arc to vaporize small amounts of
tissue. The laser diode is more practical due
mobile Xray to the difficulty of striking an arc in a liquid
more easily that an X-ray scan designed to medium and also due to the side effects
show breaks in bone goes right through soft possible when sampling near nerve tissue.
tissue without showing much detail. On the The diode could be pulsed at regular
other hand, a scan designed for soft tissue intervals, with an internal capacitor charging
can’t get through if there is any bone constantly so as to provide more power to
blocking the path of the x-rays. the laser diode than the steady output of our
power source.
Control the device: (3).TV camera:
we consider the case of internal sensors. This method involves us having a TV
When we say internal sensors, we mean camera in the device and transmitting its
sensors that are an integral part of the picture outside the body to a remote control
microrobot and are used by it to make the station, allowing the people operating the
final approach to the operation site and device to steer it. One disadvantage of this
analyze the results of its operations. These technique is the relatively high complexity
sensors will be of two types. The first type of the sensors. On the other hand, solid-state
television sensors are an extremely well bloodstream. In order to do this effectively,
developed technology, and it should not be we need a means of destroying the cell
difficult to further develop it to the level without rupturing the cell wall until after it
needed. This could be combined with the is safe. We shall consider a number of
laser diode at low power methods
Means of treatment: (a)Resonant microwaves/Ultrasonics:
The treatment for each of the medical Rather than merely apply
problems is the same in general; we must microwave/infrared or ultrasonic energy at
remove the tissue or substance from the random frequencies, the frequency of the
body. This can be done in one of several energy could be applied at the specific
ways. We can break up the clump of frequencies needed to disrupt specific
substance and rely on the body’s normal chemical bonds. This would allow us to
processes to eliminate it. Alternately, we can make sure that the tumor producing
destroy the substance before allowing the chemicals created by cancerous cells would
body to eliminate the results. We can use the be largely destroyed, with the remaining
microrobot to physically remove the amounts, if any, disposed of by the body’s
unwanted tissue. We can also use the natural defenses.
microrobot to enhance other efforts being (b)Heat:
performed, and increase their effectiveness. The use of heat to destroy cancerous tumors
(1).Physical removal: would seem to be a reasonable approach to
This method can be effective in the take. There are a number of ways in which
treatment of arteriosclerosis. In this case, a we can apply heat, each with advantages and
blade, probe or edge of some sort can be disadvantages of their own. While the
used to physically separate deposits of general technique is to apply relatively low
plaque from the artery walls. The levels of heat for prolonged periods of time,
bloodstream would carry these deposits we can apply much higher levels for shorter
away, to be eliminated by the normal periods of time to get the same effect.
mechanisms of the body. ( c )Microwave:
In the case of blood clots, it is possible that Microwave radiation is directed at the
the action of physically attacking the clot cancerous cells, raising their temperature for
could cause it to break away in large chunks, a period of time, causing the death of the
some of which could subsequently cause cells in question. This is normally done by
blockages in the blood flow.. We can set up raising the temperature of the cells to just
some mechanism to catch these blood clots enough above body temperature to kill them
and further break them up, after many minutes of exposure.
In the case of tumors, the problem is more (d)Ultrasonic:
serious. The act of physically shredding or An ultrasonic signal, which can be
even just breaking loose clumps of cells can generated by a piezoelectric membrane or
result in the cancer metastasizing throughout any other rapidly vibrating object, is
the body. One possible solution is to filter directed at, and absorbed by, the cells being
the cancerous cells out of the blood treated. This energy is converted to heat,
immediately downstream of the tumor. Even raising the temperature of the cells and
if it is possible to distinguish cancerous cells killing.
from normal cells by filtering, this would (e)Power from the bloodstream:
not prevent the spread of tumor causing There are three possibilities for this
chemicals released by the ruptured cells. scenario. In the first case, the microrobot
(2).Physical trauma: would have electrodes mounted on its outer
Another way of dealing with the unwanted casing that would combine with the
tissues is by destroying them in situ. This electrolytes in the blood to form a battery.
would avoid damaging the cancerous cells This would result in a low voltage, but it
and releasing chemicals into the would last until the electrodes were used up.
The disadvantage of this method is that in perform a small surgical operation to
the case of a clot or arteriosclerosis, there remove it.
might not be enough blood flow to sustain Application of nanorobots :
the required
1.Tumors.
Power to NanoRobot:
In this case, the power would be transmitted
We must be able to treat tumors; that is
to the microrobot from outside the body.
This can be done in a number of different
to say, cells grouped in a clumped mass.
ways, but it boils down to two possibilities. While the technique may eventually be
The first is to transmit the power by means used to treat small numbers of cells in
of a physical connection, and the second, of
course, is to transmit it without a physical
connection.
(a)Physical connection
In the first case, we would need some sort of
wire or cable to carry power between the
microrobot and the outside power source.
Problems faced are the first, of course, is lung tumor
that the wire needs to be able to reach inside
the body to where the microrobot is. This the bloodstream,,. The specified goal is
means that it must be thin enough to fit to be able to destroy tumorous tissue in
down every blood vessel that the microrobot such a way as to minimize the risk of
can enter.
causing or allowing a recurrence of the
(b)No physical connection:
we are transmitting power to the microrobot growth in the body. The technique is
without the use of wires or any sort of intended to be able to treat tumors that
physical means to transfer the power. cannot be accessed via conventional
1.Ultrasonic surgery, such as deep brain tumors.
2.Induced magnetic
2.Arteriosclerosis:
Means of recovery from the body:
This is caused by fatty deposits on the
Given sufficiently accurate control of the walls of arteries. The device should be
nanomachine, or a tether, this is not a able to remove these deposits from the
problem; we can just retrace our path
upstream. However, it would be a lot
easier, and recommended, to steer a path
through the body that traverses major
blood vessels and winds up at a point
where we can just filter the nanomachine
out of the bloodstream. This will reduce
the possibilities for difficulties, and also Arteriosclerosis
cause less wear and tear on the
nanomachine. Of course, either scenario artery walls. This will allow for both
is a possibility, depending on where the improving the flexibility of the walls of
actual operation site is. Another the arteries and improving the blood
possibility is to have the nanomachine flow through them. In view of the years
anchor itself to a blood vessel that is it takes to accumulate these deposits,
easily accessible from outside, and
simply removing them from the artery By introducing a microrobot into the
walls and leaving them in the urethra in a manner similar to that of
bloodstream should allow the body’s inserting a catheter, direct access to the
natural processes to remove the kidney stones can be obtained, and they
overwhelming preponderance of can be broken up directly. This can be
material. done either by means of ultrasonics
directly applied, or by the use of a laser
3.Blood clots: or other means of applying intense local
heat to cause the stones to break up.
The cause damage when they travel to
the bloodstream to a point where they
can block the flow of blood to a vital
area of the body. This can result in
damage to vital organs in very short
order. In many if not most cases, these

kidney stones

5.Liver stones

Liver stones accumulate in the bile duct.

Microrobots of the above type can be
introduced into the bile duct and used to

Blood clot

blood clots are only detected when they

cause a blockage and damage the organ
in question, often but not always the
brain. By using a microrobot in the body
to break up such clots into smaller pieces Stones Inside Liver Bile Ducts
before they have a chance to break free
and move on their own break up the liver stones as well. By
continuing on up the bile duct into the
4.Kidney stones liver, they can clear away accumulated
deposits of unwanted minerals and other
substances as well.

6.Burn and wound debriding:

The microrobots can also be used to

clean wounds and burns. Their size
allows them to be very useful for
removing dirt and foreign particles from
incised and punctured wounds, as well Diagnostic and therapeutic agents
as from burns. They can be used to do a constructed of biomaterials generally are
more complete and less traumatic job biodegradable in vivo. However,
than conventional techniques. suitably designed nanorobotic agents
7.Remove or break down tar, etc in constructed of nonbiological materials
lungs: are not biodegradable.

They could be very useful for the 3.Control of Nanomedical Treatment:

treatment of dirty lungs. This could be A digital biocomputer, which is possible
done by removing particles of tar and in theory, has slower clock cycles, less
other pollutants from the surface of the capacious memory per unit volume, and
alveoli, and placing them where the longer data access time and poorer
natural processes of the body can control
dispose of them. This would require a
microrobot capable of moving within the 4.Faster and More Precise Diagnosis:
lungs, on alveolar surfaces as well as The analytic function of medical
diagnosis requires rapid communication
between the injected devices and the
attending physician. Nanomachines,
with their more diverse set of input-
output mechanisms, can out message the
results of in vivo reconnaissance or
testing literally in seconds

5. Verification of Progress and

Break down of tar
Treatment: Using a variety of
communication modalities, nanorobots
over the mucus layer and over the cilia
can report back to the attending
within the lungs.
physician, with digital precision, a
summary of diagnostically- or
THE ADVANTAGES OF therapeutically-relevant data describing
NANOMEDICINE: exactly what was found, and what was
done, and what problems were
1.Speed of Medical Treatment: encountered, in every cell visited
Doctors may be surprised by the
incredible quickness of nanorobotic 6. Minimum Side Effects: Mechanical
action when compared to the speeds nanorobots may be targeted with
available from fibroblasts or leukocytes. virtually 100% accuracy to specific
Biological cilia beat at ~30 Hz while organs, tissues, or even individual
mechanical nanocilia may cycle up to cellular addresses within the human
~20 MHz, though practical power body . Such nanorobots should have few
restrictions and other considerations may if any side effects, and will remain safe
limit them to the ~10 KHz range for even in large dosages because their
most of the time. actions can be digitally self-regulated
using rigorous control protocols.
2. Non-degradation of Treatment
Agents:
CONCLUSION:
Nanomedicine will eliminate virtually all
common diseases of the 20th century,
virtually all medical pain and suffering,
and allow the extension of human
capabilities most especially our mental
abilities.
A nanostructured data storage device
about the size of a human liver cell
implanted in the brain could store a large
amount of data and provides extremely
rapid access to this information. But
perhaps the most important long-term
benefit to human society as a whole
could be the dawning of a new era of
peace. We could hope that people who
are independently well fed, well-clothed,
well-housed, smart, well educated,
healthy and happy will have little
motivation to make war. Human beings
who have a reasonable prospect of living
many "normal" lifetimes will learn
patience from experience, and will be
extremely unlikely to risk those "many
lifetimes" for any but the most
compelling of reasons.
Finally, and perhaps
most importantly, no actual working
nanorobot has yet been built. Many
theoretical designs have been proposed
that look good on paper, but these
preliminary designs could change
significantly after the necessary
research, development and testing has
been completed.