Abstract:
Nanotechnology refers to the science of reducing substances into smaller sizes. For example, One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 10-9 of a meter. Nanorobotics is the technology of creating machines or robots at or close to the microscopic scale of a nanometers (10-9 metres). Nanorobots, whose size varies from 0.1 to 10 micrometers, are purely hypothetical. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, roughly the width of three or four atoms. The average human hair is about 25,000 nanometers wide. The first constructive applications of nanomachines will be in medical technology, where they might be used to identify cancer cells and destroy them. Another imminent application is the finding of lethal chemicals, and the measurement of their concentrations, in the environment. Another potential future application of nanorobot technology is to re-engineer our bodies to become resistant to disease, increase our strength or even improve our intelligence. This paper further explores the impact nanobots will be having in treating cancer.
Introduction :
Nano robots have tremendous potential in the field of medical science. With the help of nano robots or nanites the surgery gets less complex and more effective. Nanorobots are expected to provide advances in medicine through the miniaturization from microelectronics to nanoelectronics. The robot detects the cause of your fever, travels to the appropriate system and provides a dose of medication directly to the infected area. The main challenges facing engineers are daunting. A viable nanorobot has to be small and agile enough to navigate through the human circulatory system, an incredibly complex network of veins and arteries. The robot must also have the capacity to carry medication or miniature tools. Assuming the nanorobot isn't meant to stay in the patient forever, it also has to be able to make its way out of the host.
This paper explains about the potential applications of nanorobots, the various ways nanorobots will navigate and move through our bodies, and the tools they will use to heal patients.
This paper explains about the potential applications of nanorobots, the various ways nanorobots will navigate and move through our bodies, and the tools they will use to heal patients.
The conditions and diseases nanorobots will treat in the future :
Nanorobots will be able to treat a host of diseases and conditions. While their size means they can only carry very small payloads of medicine or equipment, many doctors and engineers believe the precise application of these tools will be more effective than more traditional methods. Some of the most likely conditions that would be treated by nanites include:
· Treating arteriosclerosis
· Breaking up blood clots
· Fighting cancer:Doctors hope to use nanorobots to treat cancer patients. The robots could either attack tumors directly using lasers, microwaves or ultrasonic signals or they could be part of a chemotherapy treatment, delivering medication directly to the cancer site. Doctors believe that by delivering small but precise doses of medication to the patient, side effects will be minimized without a loss in the medication's effectiveness.
· Parasite Removal
· Gout
· Breaking up kidney stones
· Cleaning wounds
· Treating arteriosclerosis
· Breaking up blood clots
· Fighting cancer:Doctors hope to use nanorobots to treat cancer patients. The robots could either attack tumors directly using lasers, microwaves or ultrasonic signals or they could be part of a chemotherapy treatment, delivering medication directly to the cancer site. Doctors believe that by delivering small but precise doses of medication to the patient, side effects will be minimized without a loss in the medication's effectiveness.
· Parasite Removal
· Gout
· Breaking up kidney stones
· Cleaning wounds
Nanorobot Navigation :
There are two types of navigation 1.) External System 2.) Internal Systems
External navigation systems might use a variety of different methods to pilot the nanorobot to the right location. One of these methods is to use ultrasonic signals to detect the nanorobot's location and direct it to the right destination. Doctors would beam ultrasonic signals into the patient's body. The signals would either pass through the body; reflect back to the source of the signals, or both. The nanorobot could emit pulses of ultrasonic signals, which doctors could detect using special equipment with ultrasonic sensors. Doctors could keep track of the nanorobot's location and maneuver it to the right part of the patient's body.
External navigation systems might use a variety of different methods to pilot the nanorobot to the right location. One of these methods is to use ultrasonic signals to detect the nanorobot's location and direct it to the right destination. Doctors would beam ultrasonic signals into the patient's body. The signals would either pass through the body; reflect back to the source of the signals, or both. The nanorobot could emit pulses of ultrasonic signals, which doctors could detect using special equipment with ultrasonic sensors. Doctors could keep track of the nanorobot's location and maneuver it to the right part of the patient's body.
Using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device, doctors could locate and track a nanorobot by detecting its magnetic field. Because many hospitals have MRI machines, this might become the industry standard -- hospitals won't have to invest in expensive, unproven technologies.
Doctors might also track nanorobots by injecting a radioactive dye into the patient's bloodstream. They would then use a fluoroscope or similar device to detect the radioactive dye as it moves through the circulatory system. Complex three-dimensional images would indicate where the nanorobot is located. Alternatively, the nanorobot could emit the radioactive dye, creating a pathway behind it as it moves through the body.
Other methods of detecting the nanorobot include using X-rays, radio waves, microwaves or heat. Hard as it may be to imagine, nanorobots might include a miniature television camera. An operator at a console will be able to steer the device while watching a live video feed, navigating it through the body manually. Camera systems are fairly complex, so it might be a few years before nanotechnologists can create a reliable system that can fit inside a tiny robot.
Doctors might also track nanorobots by injecting a radioactive dye into the patient's bloodstream. They would then use a fluoroscope or similar device to detect the radioactive dye as it moves through the circulatory system. Complex three-dimensional images would indicate where the nanorobot is located. Alternatively, the nanorobot could emit the radioactive dye, creating a pathway behind it as it moves through the body.
Other methods of detecting the nanorobot include using X-rays, radio waves, microwaves or heat. Hard as it may be to imagine, nanorobots might include a miniature television camera. An operator at a console will be able to steer the device while watching a live video feed, navigating it through the body manually. Camera systems are fairly complex, so it might be a few years before nanotechnologists can create a reliable system that can fit inside a tiny robot.
Powering the Nanorobot :
Just like the navigation systems, nanotechnologists are considering both external and internal power sources. Nanorobots could get power directly from the bloodstream using the electrolytes found in blood or using the chemical reactions with blood to burn it for energy. The nanorobot would hold a small supply of chemicals that would become a fuel source when combined with blood.
A Nanorobot could use the patient's body heat to create power using the Seebeck effect. While it might be possible to create batteries small enough to fit inside a nanorobot, they aren't generally seen as a viable power source due to limited supply of power. Another possibility for nanorobot power is to use a nuclear power source. External power sources include systems where the nanorobot is either tethered to the outside world or is controlled without a physical tether. A physical tether could supply power either by electricity or optically. Optical systems use light through fiber optic, which would then need to be converted into electricity on board the robot. External systems that don't use tethers could rely on microwaves, ultrasonic signals or magnetic fields
A Nanorobot could use the patient's body heat to create power using the Seebeck effect. While it might be possible to create batteries small enough to fit inside a nanorobot, they aren't generally seen as a viable power source due to limited supply of power. Another possibility for nanorobot power is to use a nuclear power source. External power sources include systems where the nanorobot is either tethered to the outside world or is controlled without a physical tether. A physical tether could supply power either by electricity or optically. Optical systems use light through fiber optic, which would then need to be converted into electricity on board the robot. External systems that don't use tethers could rely on microwaves, ultrasonic signals or magnetic fields
Nanorobot Locomotion :
The Nanorobot will need a means of propulsion to get around the body. Because it may have to travel against the flow of blood, the propulsion system has to be relatively strong for its size. Another important consideration is the safety of the patient.
Scientists in Israel created micro robot, a robot only a few millimeters in length, which uses small appendages to grip and crawl through blood vessels. The scientists manipulate the arms by creating magnetic fields outside the patient's body. The magnetic fields cause the robot's arms to vibrate, pushing it further through the blood vessels. The scientists point out that because all of the energy for the nanorobot comes from an external source, there's no need for an internal power source. They hope the relatively simple design will make it easy to build even smaller robots.
One would use capacitors to generate magnetic fields that would pull conductive fluids through one end of an electromagnetic pump and shoot it out the back end. The nanorobot would move around like a jet airplane. Miniaturized jet pumps could even use blood plasma to push the nanorobot forward, though, unlike the electromagnetic pump, there would need to be moving parts.
Scientists in Israel created micro robot, a robot only a few millimeters in length, which uses small appendages to grip and crawl through blood vessels. The scientists manipulate the arms by creating magnetic fields outside the patient's body. The magnetic fields cause the robot's arms to vibrate, pushing it further through the blood vessels. The scientists point out that because all of the energy for the nanorobot comes from an external source, there's no need for an internal power source. They hope the relatively simple design will make it easy to build even smaller robots.
One would use capacitors to generate magnetic fields that would pull conductive fluids through one end of an electromagnetic pump and shoot it out the back end. The nanorobot would move around like a jet airplane. Miniaturized jet pumps could even use blood plasma to push the nanorobot forward, though, unlike the electromagnetic pump, there would need to be moving parts.
Teeny, Tiny Tools :
Here are a few of the items you might find in a nanorobot's toolkit:
Medicine cavity -- a hollow section inside the nanorobot might hold small doses of medicine or chemicals.
Probes, knives and chisels -- to remove blockages and plaque, a nanorobot will need something to grab and break down material.
Microwave emitters and ultrasonic signal generators -- to destroy cancerous cells, doctors need methods that will kill a cell without rupturing it.
Electrodes -- two electrodes protruding from the nanorobot could kill cancer cells by generating an electric current, heating the cell up until it dies.
Lasers -- tiny, powerful lasers could burn away harmful material like arterial plaque, cancerous cells or blood clots. The lasers would literally vaporize the tissue. The two biggest challenges and concerns scientists have regarding these small tools are making them effective and making them safe. For instance, creating a small laser powerful enough to vaporize cancerous cells is a big challenge, but designing it so that the nanorobot doesn't harm surrounding healthy tissue makes the task even more difficult.
Some videos of Nano robots:Medicine cavity -- a hollow section inside the nanorobot might hold small doses of medicine or chemicals.
Probes, knives and chisels -- to remove blockages and plaque, a nanorobot will need something to grab and break down material.
Microwave emitters and ultrasonic signal generators -- to destroy cancerous cells, doctors need methods that will kill a cell without rupturing it.
Electrodes -- two electrodes protruding from the nanorobot could kill cancer cells by generating an electric current, heating the cell up until it dies.
Lasers -- tiny, powerful lasers could burn away harmful material like arterial plaque, cancerous cells or blood clots. The lasers would literally vaporize the tissue. The two biggest challenges and concerns scientists have regarding these small tools are making them effective and making them safe. For instance, creating a small laser powerful enough to vaporize cancerous cells is a big challenge, but designing it so that the nanorobot doesn't harm surrounding healthy tissue makes the task even more difficult.
Nanorobot healing a damaged cell
Nanorobot destroying a damaged cell
Nanotechnology in Television
Future of Nanotechnology
Conclusion:
Eventhough it may be possible, it will take some time duration to be impliment it. So we have to wait for it.
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