Design Article
Biochips create new opportunities for medtech
Rick Merritt
12/13/2012 12:01 AM EST
Brain wraps with flexible foils
For the last 20 years, researchers have been using arrays of micro-needles to monitor and interact with the brain. Though useful, Rogers described the technique as like “shard of glass in a bowl of jello-- you destroy tissue during the implant process, you have mechanics mismatch and it creates a persistent irritation at the interfaces.”
Today, researchers are working on ultra-thin layers of silicon bonded to plastics, foils and rubber-like materials that can conform to the shape of the brain (above). Some of the work involves pre-strained materials he compared to an accordion bellows.
The flexible devices have been tested in experiments monitoring the brains of cats (below).
Click on image to enlarge.
Slideshow: IMEC explores bio, nano frontiers
3-D printers for medical use ahead says researcher
Dissolving ICs could be used as medical implants
Slideshow: Vision, medtech in focus at DESIGN East
For the last 20 years, researchers have been using arrays of micro-needles to monitor and interact with the brain. Though useful, Rogers described the technique as like “shard of glass in a bowl of jello-- you destroy tissue during the implant process, you have mechanics mismatch and it creates a persistent irritation at the interfaces.”
Today, researchers are working on ultra-thin layers of silicon bonded to plastics, foils and rubber-like materials that can conform to the shape of the brain (above). Some of the work involves pre-strained materials he compared to an accordion bellows.
The flexible devices have been tested in experiments monitoring the brains of cats (below).
Click on image to enlarge.
Slideshow: IMEC explores bio, nano frontiers
3-D printers for medical use ahead says researcher
Dissolving ICs could be used as medical implants
Slideshow: Vision, medtech in focus at DESIGN East
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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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