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Researchers receive patent for scorpion venom extraction robot

By Brianna Wessling | December 31, 2021

scorpion milking robot

The VES-4 is a humane and safe way to extract scorpion venom. | Source: Ben M’sik Hassan II University

Scorpion venom is one of the most expensive liquids in the world, costing around $39 million a gallon.

The venom has important pharmaceutical uses. For example, the venom from the Deathstalker scorpion attaches itself to cancer cells. When mixed with a fluorescent dye, the venom lights up tumors. The venom can also be used as an immunosuppressant or an anti-malarial drug.

The uses of the venom, however, aren’t the only things driving up the price. To obtain a gallon of scorpion venom, you would need to milk 2.64 million scorpions.

Extracting the venom can be dangerous. Typically, scorpions are milked either by manual electric stimulation, mechanical stimulation or by puncturing the venom or abdominal gland of the scorpion. Scorpion farmers risk deadly scorpion stings as well as electric shocks from the stimulators used to extract venom.

In 2017, researchers at Ben M’sik Hassan II University made news by unveiling their scorpion milking robot, now they have received a patent for it. The scorpion milking robot, VES-4, provides a scorpion milking alternative that’s safe for scorpion farmers and the scorpions themselves.

VES-4 was developed by Mouad Mkamel, a researcher at the university, as well as Anass Kettani, Omar Tanane and Rachid Saile. It’s lightweight and portable, as Mkamel wanted the device to be used both in the lab and in the field.

The robot milks scorpions by holding down the tail of the animal and providing an electric current to produce droplets of venom. The venom is collected in an Eppendorf tube below the scorpion.

VES-4 can be programmed for different sizes of scorpions and is operated completely autonomously with a remote control. It’s equipped with an LED screen that displays information about the scorpion.

The teams’ patent approval is an important step in getting the robot out into the world.

About The Author

Brianna Wessling

Brianna Wessling is an Associate Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. She joined WTWH Media in November 2021, after graduating from the University of Kansas with degrees in Journalism and English. She covers a wide range of robotics topics, but specializes in women in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and space robotics.

She can be reached at bwessling@wtwhmedia.com

Comments

  1. Russell Foster says

    February 25, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    Great article Brianna. Would you happen to know where someone can purchase one of these milking machines for scorpions? Thank you for your time Russell Foster. Houston Texas

    Reply
  2. Jack says

    June 9, 2022 at 5:20 am

    Hi Brianna,
    Thanks for reporting this. It’s really fascinating will definitely make this process significantly easier. Are you aware whether this is commercially available yet and if so where they can be purchased?
    Kind regards

    Reply
  3. Emilio says

    July 4, 2023 at 6:20 pm

    Very interesting, i’d really like to get invelved in the business. My question to you would be, when is VES-4 gonna be available to public and how much is gonna be running for?…
    Yours,
    Emilio N Garcia

    Reply
  4. William Amanor says

    December 27, 2023 at 11:37 am

    Brainna , thank you. Please can one get more information on this robot? And also much is may cost.

    Reply
  5. Charles Chege says

    April 6, 2024 at 2:02 pm

    Where can I buy VES-4 robot?

    Reply
  6. allan asl says

    April 21, 2024 at 7:55 am

    Good evening i am looking to buy 1 VES – 4. Dilevr to Melbourne Australia. Could you please send me the price and postage. Thanks Allan.

    Reply
  7. pamela khasandi says

    October 15, 2024 at 5:43 am

    Hi Brianna, is the VES-4 available for public purchase? where can we purchase it?

    Reply
  8. Shakilahamed says

    November 12, 2024 at 2:49 am

    Iam from India how can buy this machine & how can collecting a scorpion venom

    Reply

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