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Italian Scientists Put Robot Spiders In Your Colon

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the wait-'til-it-lays-eggs dept.

Sockatume writes "Scientists in Italy have developed a robot which will move around the lower digestive tract using legs. The 'Spider-Pill' is fitted with a camera and will stow its legs until it reaches the lower intestine. Once there it can crawl around and take pictures under direction from surgeons. Its USP is that it's more appealing than an endoscopy." The BBC also has video.

21 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. Google's spiders crawling by sopssa · · Score: 4, Funny

    In other news, Google is working on it's own version to integrate Googlebot to crawl more data into Google Maps. Soon you can zoom into a person you saw on the street and navigate inside her.

    1. Re:Google's spiders crawling by sakdoctor · · Score: 5, Funny

      I knew that robots.txt I had tattooed on my ass would come in handy.

      User-agent: *
      Disallow: /

    2. Re:Google's spiders crawling by machine321 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I, for one, welcome our...

      Wait, no. Ew.

  2. Just Sayin... by jacks0n · · Score: 4, Funny

    The goatse guy would almost be ontopic.

  3. Obligatory Matrix reference by Brewmeister_Z · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why do I get visions of doctors that look like FBI agents inserting this device into me via my belly button?

    --
    I Cater to the Needs of Stupid People. - from a coffee mug Christmas gift
  4. Oh boy! by DurendalMac · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do they bark?

  5. and in related news.... by NiteShaed · · Score: 4, Funny

    Italy has leapfrogged ahead of both Germany and Japan in the quest for making the weirdest adult films.....

    --
    Some bring out the best in others, some the worst. Some bring out far more.
    1. Re:and in related news.... by ciaohound · · Score: 4, Informative

      Ever seen "Wild, Wild Planet", a.k.a. "I criminali della gallassia"? The Italians have had this distinction since at least 1965.

      --
      Oh, yeah, it's not easy to pad these out to 120 characters.
  6. USP? by clickclickdrone · · Score: 4, Insightful

    >more appealing that an endoscopy
    Given a choice between a cable that's tethered to the outside world and a robot spider scuttling around inside my butt, I'd say the former was a win.

    --
    I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
    1. Re:USP? by Nerdfest · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can see it now: "SIr, the exploratory spider we put in you has gone rogue. We now need to release this larger hunter/killer spider to take it out (shows golf ball sized robot spider). God help us if this one goes nuts".

    2. Re:USP? by arthurpaliden · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Then like my attending nurse who said I would only feel a slight discomfort, you have never had one.

      --
      Undetectable Steganography? Yep, there's an app fo
  7. Re:So before we start getting nano-robotic overlor by iYk6 · · Score: 5, Informative

    It stands for unique selling proposition. I would like to point out that "more appealing that an endoscopy" is not unique at all.

  8. There was an old woman who swallowed.... by davidwr · · Score: 4, Funny

    She swallowed the robo-spider to swallow the robo-fly, I don't know why, she swallowed the robo-fly, maybe she'll die.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  9. This article.. by GrBear · · Score: 4, Funny

    This article is worthless without pictu... er, nevermind. *shudder*

  10. I hope the legs retract by OglinTatas · · Score: 4, Funny

    before "exiting the body naturally."

    Speaking of which, what is the natural way colon spiders exit the body? Don't they lay their eggs in there and the spiderlings eat their way out through the abdominal wall? I guess leg retraction isn't high on the agenda in that case.

    --
    More music, fewer hits
  11. Umm... no. by fredjh · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Italian Scientists Put Robot Spiders In Your Colon"

    Oh no they don't.

    --
    Stupid, sexy Flanders.
  12. I, for one, by JoshDM · · Score: 5, Informative

    welco... Aaaah! Aaaah! GET IT OUT!

  13. The worst part by AlpineR · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yeah, I think you'd still have to fast and purge with whatever unpleasant substance the colorectal surgeon chooses to torture you with. The actual colonoscopy isn't painful or anything since you're sedated, it's just a hassle needing a ride home and a break from mental responsibilities.

    But wouldn't you also have to stick around a doctor's office while you wait for the robot to get into position? Or would the robot be controlled really remotely, like by a technician in India while you're walking around the grocery store? And wouldn't you have to restrict your diet while you waited for the robot to pass? And wouldn't you have to collect the robot for return/disposal after you've both done your business?

  14. Transcript of first excursion by RevWaldo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Doctor: ROBOSPIDER YOU SHOULD BE IN THE COLON NOW. WHAT DO YOU SEE?
    Robospider: IT'S SO DAMN DARK IN HERE I CAN'T SEE MY CLAW BEFORE MY FACE. HANG ON A SEC. LET ME GET MY LIGHTER.
    Doctor: OK. WHAT? LIGHTER? NO DON'T
    (SIGNAL LOST.)

    --
    Prisencolinensinainciusol. Ol Rait!
    1. Re:Transcript of first excursion by Desiderius · · Score: 5, Funny

      I wrote one like that in high school:

      A team of tiny tapeworms were trekking through a tract
      As was their creed and calling, the purpose of their pact
      When one among their numbers, who's eyes were not as strong
      Decided he would light a match, not knowing this was wrong.
      But the others saw the danger and screamed with tiny howls:
      "He will ignite the methane gas! EVACUATE THE BOWELS!"

  15. Re:Mod parent up by JoshDM · · Score: 4, Informative

    "If I had points, I'd give you +1, Funny. ;)"

    I was hoping for +1 Informative.