Scientists at the University of London are starting a project to create a small robot hand capable of performing surgery on babies while they are still in the mother's womb.
10 million pounds would be spent on the project, which is aimed at helping children with spina bifida and other congenital conditions, according to 3 News.
The robotic hand would be able to provide 3D images of a fetus. It could also deliver stem cells to an unborn child's damaged organs.
"The aim is to create less invasive surgical technologies to treat a wide range of diseases in the womb, with considerably less risk to both mother and baby," said Sebastien Ourselin, leader of the project.
The technology, if developed successfully, would revolutionize the treatment of spina bifida and other conditions. Spina bifida occurs when a baby's spine doesn't form the right way, and affects one in 1,000 babies, Mirror reported.
In spina bifida, amniotic fluid leaks into gaps in the spine. Germs from the fluid can then spread up the spine to the brain. This can affect development and result in severe neurological issues, 3 News reported.
Experts say that patching gaps in the spine early on to keep fluid from entering will enable early treatment of the condition.
Operations for the disease are currently only possible when the fetus is 26 weeks old. The robot is being designed so it will be able to treat damage to the fetus's spine at 16 weeks, Mirror reported.
"It will be like a plaster," Ourselin said. "If we can do that, there will be massive gain for the fetus while there will be little risk for the mother."
Ourselin added that operating on babies while they are in the womb "should not be undertaken lightly."
"We need the very best surgical tools to do something like this, and this project will make sure we have them in the next few years," he stated.
