Manufacturing & Prototyping

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Tiny 3D-Printed Robot Can Take Biopsies Inside MRI Scanner

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women. Carrying out a biopsy during a breast cancer scan in an MRI significantly increases accuracy, but it is not possible to make full use of this accuracy as long as biopsy needles are controlled by hand. Researchers from the University of Twente have developed what they say is the world's smallest biopsy robot. Called 'Stormram 4,' the robot is made from 3D-printed plastic and driven by air pressure. The main advantage of plastic is that the robot can be used inside an MRI scanner, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses.