© 1999 Robert A. Freitas Jr. All Rights Reserved.

Robert A. Freitas Jr., Nanomedicine, Volume I: Basic Capabilities, Landes Bioscience, Georgetown, TX, 1999

9.3.5 Materials Disassembly for Disposal

From time to time, medical nanorobots will find it necessary to accept bulk materials of various sizes and types, and reduce those materials to smaller and simpler forms in preparation for analysis, transport, or disposal from the human body. For example, nanorobots may be required to mechanically excise unwanted tissue or mineral deposits from arterial walls. Disabled nanodevices or their component parts found freely floating in tissues may also require disposal. Both requirements are discussed below. A fuller treatment of the biocompatibility of in vivo refuse, and routes of final disposal thereof, is deferred to Chapters 15 and 16.

Last updated on 21 February 2003