Bionaut Labs intends to conduct the first human clinical trials for small injectable robots in less than two years. Magnetic coils implanted outside the patient’s skull are connected to a computer, which can navigate the micro-robot into the damaged area of the brain remotely and sensitively. If successful, the procedure could be used to treat children with Dandy-Walker Syndrome, a rare brain malformation.
Bionaut Labs received licenses from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), paving the path for clinical studies to treat Dandy-Walker Syndrome and malignant gliomas. The micro-robots will be used to “surgically” inject anti-cancer drugs directly into brain tumors. Currently, available treatment approaches include dosing the whole body with medications, resulting in significant side effects and a loss of efficacy.
