Bio-conformable transistor could transform active medical implants

A research team has successful mounted a printed transistor on a temperature-sensitive substrate that can be implanted and conform to biological structures.

The academics from the University of Texas at Dallas and University of Tokyo, have successfully implanted a demonstration device into a rat.

The shape-memory polymers can be designed to shift into predetermined shapes in response to the heat stimulus of the human body – Source: University of Texas Active implantable medical devices based on plastic electronics could have a major impact on healthcare in the future, if several recent academic demonstrations can be brought to a commercial market. This would principally be focussed on employing sensors, to give an improved real-time monitoring inside a patient, but could also be extended into therapeutic function too.

Shape-memory substrates
The US-Japanese team has been able to print organic thin-film transistors (OFTFs) on to smart material substrates called shape-memory polymers (SMPs). Rigid at room temperature, once these are introduced to the human body they become flexible, whilst retaining electrical performance. This means a printed strip can be induced to grasp or wrap around a biological structure like a nerve bundle.

A key breakthrough the current project was able to make was to uncover an SMP that altered its performance in the key threshold between room temperature and the 37°C, which is normal human core body temperature. This would allow it to be handled easily by a surgeon, but become truly flexible and conformable once inside the body.

Bio-conformable transistor could transform active medical implants

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