How a micro-robot swarm destroys a sinus infection
Micro-robots
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Magnetic
particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter
delivers swarms
of robots into
sinuses
Bacterial infection
Optical fibre guided by
externally operated
magnetic field
Light activates robots by
heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Robots guided by
clinician using same
magnetic field
Once activated’ robots
produce reactive oxygen,
killing bacteria
Micro-robots
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Magnetic
particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter delivers
swarms of robots
into sinuses
Bacterial infection
Optical fibre guided by
externally operated
magnetic field
Light activates robots by
heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Robots guided by clinician
using same magnetic field
Once activated, robots
produce reactive oxygen,
killing bacteria
Micro-robots
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Magnetic particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter delivers
swarms of robots
into sinuses
Bacterial
infection
Optical fibre guided by
externally operated
magnetic field
Light activates robots by
heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Robots guided by clinician
using same magnetic field
Once activated, robots produce
reactive oxygen, killing bacteria
Micro-robots
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Magnetic particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter
delivers swarms of
robots into sinuses
Bacterial
infection
Optical fibre
guided by externally
operated magnetic field
Light activates robots
by heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Robots guided by clinician
using same magnetic field
Once activated, robots produce
reactive oxygen, killing bacteria
Micro-robots
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Magnetic
particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter
delivers swarms
of robots into
sinuses
Bacterial infection
Optical fibre guided by
externally operated
magnetic field
Light activates robots by
heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Robots guided by
clinician using same
magnetic field
Once activated’ robots
produce reactive oxygen,
killing bacteria
Micro-robots
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Magnetic
particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter delivers
swarms of robots
into sinuses
Bacterial infection
Optical fibre guided by
externally operated
magnetic field
Light activates robots by
heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Robots guided by clinician
using same magnetic field
Once activated, robots
produce reactive oxygen,
killing bacteria
Micro-robots
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Magnetic particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter delivers
swarms of robots
into sinuses
Bacterial
infection
Optical fibre guided by
externally operated
magnetic field
Light activates robots by
heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Robots guided by clinician
using same magnetic field
Once activated, robots produce
reactive oxygen, killing bacteria
Micro-robots
Active base
material studded
with copper atoms
Each robot
measures around
2.5 micrometres
Magnetic particles
Viscous pus
barrier to
infection site
Catheter
delivers swarms of
robots into sinuses
Bacterial
infection
Optical fibre
guided by externally
operated magnetic field
Light activates robots
by heating them, softening
pus and easing access
Once activated, robots produce
reactive oxygen, killing bacteria
Robots guided by clinician
using same magnetic field