Microgripper - ultra-small clamp used for tissue sampling

When taking a tissue sample for medical diagnosis, doctors often experience limitations because they have to use bulky and easily invasive clips. However, in the near future, doctors may abandon rough clamps to switch to a micro-clamp called microgripper developed by John Hopkins University.

Microgripper are metal plates, each measuring only 300 micrometers and designed to pick up pieces of tissue when massively inserted into the body. After the procedure, doctors can easily recover and recover. With such a small size, clamping microgripper does not require the use of batteries or wires, making the diagnosis process faster and less damaging.

Under a microscope, microgripper has a star shape and they are made using the same technology as computer chips. The clamps are made of nickel - a magnetic metal that allows easy retrieval after use and allows microgripper to pick up small pieces of tissue, from the top to the junction between the wings of the "star". coated with heat-sensitive polymer. At 0 degrees C, the "star" stretches and hardens but at 37 degrees Celsius or body temperature, the polymer becomes softer, causing the star's wings to tighten, grabbing everything it contacts.

The question is whether microgripper is really useful? According to many medical perspectives, tissue sampling is an important factor for accurate diagnosis. The use of conventional clamps will be limited to random biopsy indicators in a certain organ by the size and extent of the injury they cause with each tissue cut. Therefore, microgripper allows doctors to sample tissue easily in hundreds of times more.

Microgripper compared with 1 normal clamp.

Microgripper was designed by Dr. Gracias at John Hopkins University and his team conducted two experiments. In it, they used the pig's colon as a model to check the microgripper's operability because it was very similar to human gut. Before being inserted into the colon with a laparoscopic device, microgripper is kept hard in cold water. After 5 minutes in the colon, the polymer warms up so that the star's wings shrink tightly to grip a tissue sample. The process continued until the amount of tissue needed was obtained, at which time the team used a magnetic catheter to collect the microgripper.

However, the research team said it was not possible to record all the deployed microgripper. Although colon tissue regenerates very quickly, some microgripper are still overlooked. Therefore, the next research direction of Dr. Gracias and colleagues is safety.

With future advancements in the micro technology field, we can hope that someday doctors will use super small tools like microgripper to replace bulky things they are still using. ever.