Stefan Weis / ETH Zurich
Stroke patients may soon benefit from magnetic, remote-controlled medical devices that clear away their blood clots and minimize their risk for long-term brain damage.
Typically, surgeons break up blood clots in the brain using a long, thin tube called a catheter (not to be confused with the one used for waste disposal, mind you), but the procedure requires a steady hand and a high degree of skill. Researchers at ETH Zürich are developing a catheter that can be remotely controlled by magnets—opening the door for tele-surgery. They founded a company called Nanoflex last November to fine-tune their device and get it ready for clinical use.
“With our system, it will be possible to carry out procedures from a distance by remote control and on a screen,” Nanoflex engineer Silvia Viviani said in an ETH Zürich news article. Such a use is particularly relevant for stroke patients: They face worse outcomes the longer that blood clots persist and can’t otherwise be treated at smaller medical centers that lack trained neurosurgeons.
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