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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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17

New 'Spider Pill' Roams Body Hunting Cancer

Camera pill first to be fully remote-controlled

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(Newser) – It sounds like something out of science fiction, but a tiny robotic spider could save your life. Scientists have created a pill-sized camera that, once swallowed, can deploy mechanical legs and roam the body looking for cancer or other maladies, the Daily Telegraph reports. The “spider pill” is controlled wirelessly by doctors. Though camera pills have existed before, this is the first remote-controlled version, and could improve cancer treatments. It’s currently being tested on pigs, but doctors expect human trials soon.

The experimental pill probably doesn't actually look much like this.
The experimental pill probably doesn't actually look much like this.   (Shutterstock)
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17 comments
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Doctor_Supercilious
Oct 12, 09 10:50 AM CDT
I saw this on the Jetsons. Reply
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+11
Fondue
Oct 12, 09 10:54 AM CDT
Modern day "Innerspace". Reply
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+3
Wills
Oct 12, 09 11:03 AM CDT
As with much cool tech, exciting until its weaponized. Well, ok, l33t gamers fighting chinese operative controlled spiderbots inside the president's body would be pretty exciting... Reply
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+1
odowd80
Oct 12, 09 11:14 AM CDT
I wonder if my HMO will cover this? Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
thejanet
Oct 13, 09 5:24 PM CDT
Your HMO probably won't cover any effective cancer treatment without a fight. These are called "experimental medicine" and you've got to find at least one insurance policy that has covered it. If you can do that, you have at least a fighting chance of having it covered, after you fight them, of course. Just what you feel like doing during cancer treatments.
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