Devices

Wireless pressure and temperature sensors built from silicon that dissolves in the body, so no retrieval surgery is needed. Illinois, Washington University and Northwestern, 2016.

Device — Other

Bioresorbable silicon brain sensors

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bioresorbable · transient electronics · intracranial pressure · temperature · wireless · Rogers · academic · preclinical

Bioresorbable silicon brain sensors

One-line verdict: An implant designed to disappear. The sensor measures intracranial pressure and temperature wirelessly, then dissolves, avoiding the infection risk and second surgery of permanent hardware.

Quick tags: Sensing (pressure, temperature) · Brain · Published: 2016 (Nature)

Overview

What it is: Electronic sensors made from bioresorbable silicon. The paper argues that permanent electronic hardware acts as a nidus for infection and forces retrieval surgery, and that a device which resorbs avoids both.

What was shown: Wireless measurement of intracranial pressure and temperature in live, freely moving animals. The paper also shows the sensors in other body cavities and an injectable format for deep brain monitoring.

Where it sits in this catalog: It does not record neurons. It is listed because transient, wireless, resorbable electronics are a direction for temporary brain interfaces.

Spec Card Grid

Identity

  • Authors: Seung-Kyun Kang, Rory K. J. Murphy, Suk-Won Hwang, Seung Min Lee and co-authors; senior author John A. Rogers
  • Published: Nature, 18 January 2016

Evidence and limits

  • Shown: wireless ICP and temperature in freely moving animals; injectable deep-brain format
  • Not covered here: human use, dissolution times and sensor dimensions, which are in the paper

Engineering Verdict

Strengths: no retrieval, lower infection burden, wireless.

Limitations: sensing only, not neural recording; function lasts only as long as the device persists before it dissolves.

References