Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers, working with scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital, have developed a new way to power and communicate with devices implanted deep inside the human body.
The devices which are powered by a radio frequency waves which can safely pass through human tissues, could be used to deliver drugs, monitor conditions inside the body, or treat disease by stimulating the brain with electricity or light.
While conducting tests on animals, the researchers found that the waves can power devices located 10 centimeters deep in tissue, from distance of 1 meter.
The prototype used in testing is about the size of a grain of rice. The team believes that the implant could be made even smaller in the future. The same method of power and communication could be used for ingested sensors as well. Those with conditions requiring deep brain stimulation could see big benefits from this tech.
Naturally, people with Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy use deep brain stimulation devices that are implanted under the skin to control them. With the new technology, the implants could be wireless. Pacemakers could also benefit from this tech, currently, much of the size of the pacemaker is the battery.
