A team of engineers, scientists and clinicians based at the University of Leeds' (West Yorkshire, UK; www.leeds.ac.uk) STORM Lab has created a miniature robot capable of travelling deep into the lungs to identify and treat early signs of cancer. 

This remarkably small, ultra-soft,magnetically controlled tentacle, merely two millimeters in diameter,can access the smallest bronchial tubes, potentially revolutionizing lung cancer treatment by allowing a more precise, personalized, and minimally invasive approach. When tested on cadaver lungs,the magnetic tentacle robot could travel 37% deeper into the lungs compared to standard equipment, causing less tissue damage.

The robot could not only enhances navigation during lung biopsies but also pave the way for significantly less invasive treatments.

image: Close-up of a magnetic tentacle robot next to a phantom bronchiole (Photo courtesy of University of Leeds)