What is a Microbivore?
A microbivore is a speculative future device, a micromachine with numerous internal nanomachines, which would function as an artificial white blood cell, or phagocyte. Although a detailed design for a microbivore has been outlined by its inventor, Robert Freitas, we currently lack the means to fabricate it. Including moving parts with dimensions as small as 150 nanometers, fabrication of a microbivore would likely require atom-by-atom manufacturing based on mechanosynthesis. “Mechanosynthesis” refers to chemical reactions orchestrated by the specific programmed motions of nanoscale robotic arms. Such a manufacturing technology has been referred to as molecular nanotechnology by its primary conceiver, Dr. Eric Drexler. Some futurists anticipate the development of molecular nanotechnology in the 2020-2030 time range. The medical necessity for a microbivore is obvious – there are numerous pathologies involving the presence of foreign organisms in the bloodstream. Collectively, these are c
A microbivore is a speculative future device, a micromachine with numerous internal nanomachines, which would function as an artificial white blood cell, or phagocyte. Although a detailed design for a microbivore has been outlined by its inventor, Robert Freitas, we currently lack the means to fabricate it. Including moving parts with dimensions as small as 150 nanometers, fabrication of a microbivore would likely require atom-by-atom manufacturing based on mechanosynthesis. “Mechanosynthesis†refers to chemical reactions orchestrated by the specific programmed motions of nanoscale robotic arms. Such a manufacturing technology has been referred to as molecular nanotechnology by its primary conceiver, Dr. Eric Drexler. Some futurists anticipate the development of molecular nanotechnology in the 2020-2030 time range. The medical necessity for a microbivore is obvious — there are numerous pathologies involving the presence of foreign organisms in the bloodstream. Collectively, these
