Researchers from Italy have developed a robot that could one day allow diabetes patients to receive insulin doses without injections. The robot, named "Pill Sid," consists of two separate parts: an internal insulin dispenser surgically implanted by a doctor in the abdomen and a magnetic capsule loaded with the hormone.
When it's time to refill the dispenser, the patient takes a pill that travels through the digestive system to the dispenser near the small intestine. Using magnetic force, the device positions the capsule to puncture it with a needle to draw insulin into the reservoir. The dispenser is wirelessly charged, minimizing the need for maintenance interventions, and once the capsule is empty, it is expelled by the digestive system.
In tests on three diabetic animals, the research team found that the system successfully managed insulin levels for several hours. In some cases, they observed bodily fluids from the animals leaking into the robot, prompting the team to work on sealing the device tightly.
The Italian robot is not the only one in its field; for instance, in 2016, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showcased a robot capable of retrieving objects from within the intestines, according to the website "Engadget."
