Just like other parts of the body, the retina needs oxygen in order to survive. If it doesn’t receive enough – should its blood supply be restricted, for instance – permanent blindness can result. Therefore, the sooner that doctors know if a patient’s retina is receiving insufficient oxygen, the better the chances that they can take action in time. Soon, they may be able to use tiny injectable robots to get them the information they need.
Led by Prof. Bradley Nelson, researchers at ETH Zurich had already created microrobots for possible use in delivering medication or removing scar tissue within the eye. The devices measure a millimeter in length and one third of a millimeter in width, and can be guided through the vitreous fluid within the eye via externally-applied magnetic fields.
via Gizmag
