title: Potential Applications of Untethered Microdevices in the Blood Vessels within the Constraints of an MRI System.
abstract: This paper presents potential medical applications that an untethered microdevice in the cardiovascular system could perform within an MRI system. Recent developments and continuing evolution in micro/nano fabrication and design techniques will enable the development of functional microdevices able to explore the cardiovascular system. The Magnetic Resonance Submarine (MR-Sub) project is a first step towards this goal. Magnetic force generated by the gradient coils of an MRI system provides a propulsion mechanism that simplifies miniaturization and bypasses energetic challenges. Untethered microdevices may play an important complementary role in the next generation of minimally invasive tools. A better efficiency and targetability of the treatments will be achieved when microsystems such as the MR-Sub will allow a more extensive access to smaller blood vessels.
authors.affiliation: NanoRobotics Laboratory, Department of Computer Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, &#201;cole Polytechnique de Montr&#233;al (EPM), Campus of Universit&#233; de Montr&#233;al, Canada.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soulez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martel