Microgrippers

During a colonoscopy, the physician may take one or more biopsies of suspicious looking polyps, while knowing that other nearby tissue may be beginning to show pre-cancerous abnormalities.  In order to get more tissue samples, in this situation, a Johns Hopkins doctor has developed confetti-like microgrippers that can be released through the endoscope, tens or hundreds at a time, and then magnetically retrieved.  These devices are made of magnetic nickel with a heat-sensitive polymer that takes a tissue bite when it warms to body temperature. MORE

Image Credit:  Gastroenterology, Johns Hopkins