On the other hand, a miniature version could grip and transport drug capsules or
microsurgical instruments through living tissue.
Laparoscopy, developed in the late 1970s, uses a minute camera and
microsurgical instruments to access the body through tiny incisions, providing a finer degree of accessibility to the surgeon and eliminating the risk of large, open surgical areas.
Ultrasonic waves can penetrate the body relatively gently, he notes, so the sonic tractor beam might be used to remove kidney stones and clots, deliver drug - laden capsules to various parts of the body, or control
microsurgical instruments.