Design Article
Biochips create new opportunities for medtech
Rick Merritt
12/13/2012 12:01 AM EST
Dissolving IC heals wounds
One of the most impressive accomplishments to date is a design that dissolves into the body once its work is done (below). Its job is to heat the skin around a suture to kill bacteria that cause infections, a leading cause for re-admitting patients to the hospital.
Click on image to enlarge.
“The device only needs to operate for a week or two then disappear, side-stepping long term bio-compatibility challenges,” said Rogers.
He showed such a design (below) with “reasonably high performance circuits” made from a combination of five water-soluble materials. Digital imagers and other water-soluble ICs are now in animal trials.
“You can actually take pictures with a fully soluble imager array,” he said, demonstrating the concept by swallowing an RF oscillator on stage. “Its good stuff, and I have to say tastes like chicken,” he quipped.
Click on image to enlarge.
Next: Chips worn like tattoos
One of the most impressive accomplishments to date is a design that dissolves into the body once its work is done (below). Its job is to heat the skin around a suture to kill bacteria that cause infections, a leading cause for re-admitting patients to the hospital.
Click on image to enlarge.
“The device only needs to operate for a week or two then disappear, side-stepping long term bio-compatibility challenges,” said Rogers.
He showed such a design (below) with “reasonably high performance circuits” made from a combination of five water-soluble materials. Digital imagers and other water-soluble ICs are now in animal trials.
“You can actually take pictures with a fully soluble imager array,” he said, demonstrating the concept by swallowing an RF oscillator on stage. “Its good stuff, and I have to say tastes like chicken,” he quipped.
Click on image to enlarge.
Next: Chips worn like tattoos
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iniewski
12/13/2012 5:26 PM EST
thank you Rick for bring up this story, absolutely amazing...Congrats John, incredible stuff, perhaps you will be interested in giving a plenary talk again at emerging technology symposium? www.cmosetr.com, Kris
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jeremybirch
12/14/2012 7:16 AM EST
In what way is Si or SiO2 water soluble? To my knowledge SiO2 is pretty insoluble (otherwise there would not be many glass bottles or beaches!)
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