In 2009, mechanical engineer James Friend of Australia invented a tiny robot motor that could ultimately run in tiny robots inserted into the human body. These robots could carry cameras, guide wires, and do many other things inside the human body in order to help doctors prepare for surgery. As well, these tasks could help the doctors see what is going on in the body in order to gauge exactly what needs to be done and control what they are currently doing. James Friend has been testing out these concepts with artificial arteries, and his group plans to also develop even smaller versions of these robots and robot motors.
Similarly, Italian researchers have developed a so-called “spider pill” that can be swallowed by a patient, after which the pill, which is really a robotic spider, will extend all of its eight legs and can crawl through the intestines. This robotic spider can be remotely controlled by doctors, and can be used to check for polyps and tumors, and features a tiny camera that it can use to take pictures for the doctors to examine afterward. It even comes out conveniently once the patient goes to the bathroom.