This tiny wireless sensor is implanted in the brain without surgery and disappears in a few weeks
A new wireless sensor that can be injected and dissolves within weeks offers a revolutionary, wireless method for monitoring brain health, potentially transforming treatments for neurological conditions.
A new sensor has been developed and tested on animals that is injected into the body and can monitor brain health and dissolves within weeks.
This medical innovation offers the potential for minimally invasive human implants to monitor conditions such as traumatic brain injury or epilepsy.
It is the first wireless sensor that can be used to monitor conditions in the body without the need for surgery, says Jules Magda of the University of Utah in the US, who was not involved in the research.
A cube of metagel only 2 millimeters wide
The sensor in question, a 2-millimeter-wide cube of soft hydrogel, was designed by Jianfeng Zang of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, along with his team. They embedded precisely spaced columns of air into the hydrogel to create a “metagel” sensor. This structure allows the sensor to direct reflections of ultrasound waves, which change shape in response to different brain conditions, such as pressure or temperature, visible with ultrasound.
No wires or electronics required. It’s almost as if the metagel behaves like a tiny acoustic mirror that changes its reflection depending on the environment, Zang explains.
Research related to that metagel is published in the journal Nature.
There is still some discomfort when entering
In tests on rats and pigs, the metagel sensors measured pressure, temperature, pH levels and blood flow, showing results comparable to traditional wire probes. Interestingly, the metagel broke down into harmless components, such as water and carbon dioxide, within four to five weeks.
A needle with a large diameter is used to insert the sensor into the brain, which in itself can cause some discomfort. Magda, however, emphasizes the necessity of checking the non-toxicity of dissolved metagels. Despite the promising results, Zang points out that long-term testing in larger animals is essential to ensure the safety and reliability of the metagel before moving to human clinical trials.
Initial experiments showed minimal swelling or immune response in rat brain tissue after sensor implantation and degradation, indicating a promising future for these innovative devices in medical monitoring applications.
Source: New Scientist
