Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common and sometimes deadly disease characterised by the formation of blood clots in the vascular
system. If it gets stuck in the lungs, it can cause symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or even death if not treated properly and in time.
The incidence rate of VTE is estimated to be 0.7 to 1.4 per 1000 people per year, affecting mainly patients over 55 years [1], showcasing the severity of the disease. Clot-dissolving medication will be administered using a catheter in threatening circumstances, such as potential limb loss.
Untethered magnetic robots (UMRs) have already shown promising results for navigating complex vascular networks in ex vivo (outside a living organism) conditions [4]. Additionally, UMRS have the possibility to be designed and deployed for different objectives such as blood clot removal, targeted cargo delivery and microrobot-aided physical surgery [5], therefore proving to be a viable multipurpose solution.
