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Microengines can replace traditional insulin pumps

Experts from the "Kurchatov Institute" Research Center have developed the world's first internal combustion microengine that is comparable in thickness to a human hair. This unique device is capable of moving objects that weigh a thousand times more than the engine itself.

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The engine operates using saltwater, which is converted into gas through electrical influence. Then, in the engine's chamber, a combustion process of hydrogen takes place, causing an explosion that drives a membrane functioning as a piston. After that, the gas is condensed back into a liquid, and the cycle repeats.

According to the creators, the most obvious practical application of their technology lies in the ability to use the device for pumping liquids through various microchannels. For example, it could serve as an effective replacement for bulky pumps currently used for delivering insulin. However, a micro version of this device could be used in a wide range of micromechanical devices. These smaller versions of traditional equipment are increasingly in demand in the modern market.