During the 36 months of the project, corresponding to the Outgoing phase taking place at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Return Phase at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, key research and training steps were carried out to accomplish MAMBO objectives.
As a first step, the fabrication process allowing to obtain microrobots responsive to Ultrasound and Magnetic Fields was engineered and optimized. Modulating magnetic fields allows to control swarms of microrobots towards the target location. The results accomplished in terms of microrobots fabrication, US stimulation and swarm control are extremely encouraging and represent an important milestone with respect on the state of the art.
In parallel, together with colleagues both at the Host and Partner Institution, I’ve been working on the development of new methods for optimized US-based imaging at small-scales. Indeed, traditional US-based imaging (typically defined ad B-mode) features non-sufficient spatial resolution and fails in allowing microrobots imaging in tissue-mimicking environment. To overcome this limitation, we developed (and published models, methods and results) a new imaging method based on US signals phase analysis. This method allows to exploit microrobot motion as specific signatures for their detection thus being independent from the contrast of the working environment and as a consequence extremely efficient in soft tissues. By exploiting such method, we demonstrated the possibility to monitor vibrating, rolling and bacteria-like microrobots and to use this type of imaging feedback for closed-loop microrobots magnetic control. The use of artificial intelligence has also allowed to enhance imaging and tracking performance by leveraging on anatomical information and making the developed methods closed to real medical applications.
The results accomplished led to several publications (seven journals papers accepted, one submitted). Furthermore, the results accomplished were also disseminated through talks (1 plenary, 1 keynote and 4 invited talks, 1 invited lecture) I gave in relevant International Conferences and Research Institutes.
