All articles tagged with #medical implants
Scientists have developed a novel electronic ink using gallium and a polymer solvent that can switch between rigid and flexible states when heated, enabling new possibilities for wearable medical devices, flexible robotics, and large-scale 3D-printed electronics, overcoming previous challenges in liquid metal printing.
Scientists have developed a novel 'electronic ink' using gallium and a polymer that can switch between rigid and soft states when heated, enabling the creation of flexible, shape-shifting electronic devices for applications like medical implants and robotics.
MIT engineers have developed a hydrogel adhesive coating for medical implants that prevents fibrosis, or scar tissue formation, which can interfere with device function. This adhesive binds the devices to tissue, preventing the immune system from attacking them. The approach has shown success in animal models and could be used for various implants, including pacemakers and drug delivery devices. The research, published in Nature, was funded by the NIH and NSF.
A shirt woven with bands of metal textiles could improve communication for medical implants. Some implants, such as glucose monitoring sensors, require data from other parts of the body but wireless connectivity is challenging. Signals transmitted inside the body are quickly absorbed and can't travel far, while external relay systems add more hardware. The metal textiles in the shirt act as data channels, allowing for easier communication between implants and other devices.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed the first fully organic bioelectronic device that can acquire and transmit neurophysiologic brain signals while providing power for device operation. The device, about 100 times smaller than a human hair, is based on an organic transistor architecture that is biocompatible, flexible, and stable in the long term. It incorporates a vertical channel and a miniaturized water conduit, demonstrating high electrical performance, low-voltage operation, and long-term stability. The device has the potential to revolutionize medical implants and improve diagnostics and treatment for patients with neurological disorders.
Harvard researchers have developed a synthetic heart valve called FibraValve that can be manufactured in minutes using a spun-fiber method. The valve's delicate flaps can be shaped on a microscopic level and can be colonized by the patient's living cells, developing with them as they mature. The valve uses a new custom polymer material called PLCL that can last inside a patient's body for about six months. The long-term vision is for the resulting organic tissue to develop with human children as they mature, potentially voiding the need for risky replacement surgeries as their bodies grow.