Weizmann Institute officials announced today the development of a magnetic device, the size of a pencil point and encased in plastic, which may yield significant advances in diagnosis, therapy and surgery in presently difficult areas of illness treatment.
The device, called a “pod,” can be introduced into the bloodstream or bodily organs and guided to an area of treatment with magnetic field manipulation. Officials said it held possibilities in measurement of blood flow, simple but valuable operations and the removal of thrombosis blockages by circulation in the bloodstream to dissolve clots.
The device, which has been tested on animals, is scheduled to be tested on human beings within the next year. It was developed by Prof. Ephraim Frei of the Institute in cooperation with Institute engineer Saul Libinson. It is now being tested by Professor Ashkenazi and the developers in connection with neurosurgery problems.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.