Fantasy and Reality - Electric Motors within the Human Body

What arose from the realm of fantasy just a few decades ago is reality today thanks to available micro drives. Advances in the miniaturization of technical systems have made this possible. Today, micro motors are already routinely used by physicians for carrying out demanding examinations and treatments in the human body. The following article discusses the state of the art exemplified by two motorized cardiac catheters and a swallowable capsule which performs radiological examinations for early detection of colorectal cancer. The article is rounded off by considering the pros and cons of autonomous robots in the human body.