 |
 |
Medical microchips' massive potential Wednesday, 27 September, 2000, 00:09 GMT 01:09 UK The future of treatment for life-threatening conditions, including cancer and heart disease, could come from a new breed of microchips. Biological microelectromechanical devices, known as bioMEMS, could be implanted into the body to deliver doses of drugs or carry new cells to damaged tissue. The possibilities the field of biomedical nanotechnology present were outlined by Robert Michler, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Ohio State University, to the Biomedical Nanotechnology World 2000 conference. Among the applications of nanotechnology in health would be development of robotic surgery techniques. A recent study led by Dr Michler has used robotic methods to graft arteries from the chest wall to the heart in 60 patients. Now Dr Michler anticipates that the same techniques, allowing precision and access to tiny areas of the body, could allow microchips to be placed in tissue or blood vessels. The chips could then release drugs or even stem cells to stimulate local tissue repair. "We're ready to create the chips and use the robot to insert them into the hearts of lab animals," he said. Within five years clinical trials on humans are possible. The emerging field of nanotechnology and health in the UK is centred at the University of Birmingham. Its researchers believe there is great potential for developing new techniques and treatments, and proposals are currently being drawn up for new areas of research. Other specialities which could benefit from the microchip technology include cancer detection and prevention. Michael Caligiuri, associate director for clinical research at Ohio's Comprehensive Cancer Center, said there was potential to develop a chip containing a cancer vaccine which could be delivered in precise doses to specific parts of the body. "Drug delivery devices would give us much better control of dosing, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the drug while limiting its toxicity," he said. Microchips with sensors attached could also detect mutated genes or high hormone levels indicating the potential for malignancy. Related to this story: Heart surgeons use robot hands (02 Feb 00 | Health) Robot reduces spinal surgery risk (12 Mar 00 | Health) Cancer vaccine 'close' (27 Aug 00 | Health) Universal cancer vaccine 'possible' (29 Aug 00 | Health) Stem cell advance fuels embryo debate (20 Sep 00 | Health) Internet links: Ohio State University Medical Center British Heart Foundation Birmingham University BBC News Online: Health http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/health/newsid_943000/943419.stm janet paterson 53 now / 44 dx cd / 43 onset cd / 41 dx pd / 37 onset pd TEL: 613 256 8340 URL: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ EMAIL: [log in to unmask] SMAIL: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada