The conceptual (for now) Vascular Cartographic Scanning Nanodevice (VCSN) would be manifest as an advanced autonomous, ~Ø1 μm nanomedical device applied for the ultrahigh resolution scanning/imaging of the entire vascular system in vivo, down to capillary level (~3 μm). The technology required to fabricate the VCSN (molecular manufacturing -MM) does not exist as yet, albeit MM will be the progeny of today's rapidly advancing 3D printing technologies with the ability to "print" explicitly designed components, atomic layer by atomic layer.

Overview of Envisaged VCSN Capabilities:

• Generation of ultrahigh resolution (<~1 μm) 3D renderings of the entire human vasculature down to the capillary level. It may also be applied to the imaging of the lymphatic system, and in simplified (first iteration) form, via a Ø3 mm Gastrointestinal Micro Scanning Device (GMSD) to digitally image the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in vivo.
• Capacity to differentiate and superimpose vascular/neurological plaque deposits and lesions with high accuracy against the backdrop of healthy endothelial wall surfaces.
• Vascular wall thicknesses could be quantified and “hot spots” would be highlighted at any site within the vasculature (e.g., imminent plaque blockages or aneurysms at risk of rupturing) to facilitate their mitigation in situ, especially within the brain.
• Physicians/surgeons would have the capacity to “fly-through” all scanned areas for the highly detailed analysis of any desired site within vascular or lymphatic systems, with options for full scale holographic rendering and virtual travel through all imaged systems.
• It may facilitate the in vivo targeting of tumors by through the identification of nascent angiogenesis in proximity to tumor growth sites.

Envisaged VCSN Components:

• Energy harvesting/generation
  Primary/auxiliary power-harvesting sources for all primary, secondary, and multiple redundant VCSN systems.
• Spatial data acquisition component.
  Functions as spatial data acquisition signal emitter/receiver that comprises the scanning mechanism.
• Nanoelectronic/nanophotonic infrastructure.
  Electronic/photonic circuits to enable critical VCSN functions.
• Data transfer beacon.
  Transmits collected spatial data to an “outbody” receiver interfaced with the Pixel Matrix (PM) image reconstruction system.
• Propulsion and navigational systems.
  Endows the VCSN with in vivo autonomy enabling travel in any orientation/direction.
  (note: scanning operations will likely require the deployment of thousands of identical VCSN nanodevices).
• Quantum computation.
  Enables capacity for command data storage, working protocols, and spatial data backup at a high level of redundancy for fail-safe nanodevice operation.
• Pixel Matrix display system.
  Translates acquired spatial data into digitized display format with high image resolution in 3D space.
• Spectroscopic component.
  Elucidates the chemical composition of scanned entities to differentiate plaque deposits and lesions from healthy (background) vascular endothelial or lymphatic walls using mass spectroscopic analysis.
• Biocompatible coating technology.
  Endows the VCSN nanodevices with stealth qualities to circumvent any level of immune response while they operate in vivo, using inert/biocompatible materials (e.g., diamondoid, sapphire).

Thank you for your consideration.

All the Best,
Frank