The 46th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, was held in Orlando, Florida, USA, July 15-19, 2024. As social determinants of health take on an ever-important role, the conference theme, “Technology and its promise for equity and access for well-health,” addresses the great potential impacts that engineers can provide to the whole of society. At this world’s largest international biomedical engineering conference, a broad array of scientific tracks will cover diverse topics of cutting-edge research and innovation in biomedical engineering, healthcare technology, in particular for women and children’s well-health, translational clinical research, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, and biomedical engineering education. In addition to the high-profile keynotes, the conference program will feature mini symposia, workshops, special sessions, oral and poster sessions, sessions for students and young professionals, sessions for clinicians and entrepreneurs, and exhibits from vendors and universities.
Prof. Salvador Pané gave a talk during the mini-symposium “Microrobotic Magnetic Technologies for Healthcare Applications”.
Microrobotic Magnetic Technologies for Healthcare Applications
Wednesday, July 17th | 8:30 – 10:00
Over the last two decades, microrobotic magnetic technologies have undergone impressive advances in the area of minimally invasive medicine. The use of magnetic fields has emerged as a compelling approach, enabling the wireless manipulation of magnetic devices, known as micro- and nanorobots, within the human body. Magnetic fields are attractive for their biocompatibility across a wide range of frequencies and magnitudes, as well as for their versatility in maneuvering objects. With a suitable design and specific magnetic inputs (i.e., gradients, rotating, or oscillating magnetic fields), magnetic tools can achieve different locomotion mechanisms. Magnetic technologies have also facilitated the activation of additional functionalities in magnetic micro- and nanorobots, such as magnetic hyperthermia for tissue cancer ablation, magnetoelectric stimulation of cells, enhanced diffusion of drugs and abrasion of tissues and blood clots. Our mini-symposium brings together leading experts to delve into various facets of this transformative field. Topics will span from advanced magnetic navigation systems to micro- and nanoscale tools designed for the transportation of therapeutic payloads, such as drugs and stem cells. We will also discuss the development of magnetically guided robotic catheters and endoscopes, as well as nanoscale actuators capable of wirelessly electrostimulating cell tissues. Particularly, we will explore how magnetic navigation systems can operate seamlessly in healthcare settings without requiring a complex infrastructure. The symposium will also discuss various designs for small magnetic robots, with an emphasis on biodegradability and biocompatibility, methods for tracking them inside the body, and strategies for efficiently controlling swarms of these devices. Additionally, we will show how advancements in materials can contribute to the development of dexterous robotic catheters that navigate through intricate blood vessels using magnetic navigation. The discussion will also touch on magnetic wearables and sensing technologies. Magnetic technologies go beyond the constraints of traditional methods, offering advancements in localized delivery, embolization, cell fertilization, and precise stimulation of difficult-to-reach damaged tissues. In this mini-symposium, we will uncover the potential of magnetic technologies and their pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of healthcare applications.
Organizers/Speakers: Salvador Pané{2}, Denys Makarov{3}, Brad Nelson{2}, Li Zhang{5}, Hongsoo Choi{1}, Mariana Medina Sanchez{4}
{1}Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Korea; {2}ETH Zürich, Switzerland; {3}Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany; {4}Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden, Germany; {5}The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
