UC Berkeley Researchers Create The First Supertiny Wireless Implantable Body Sensor with Many Potential Benefits

What if supertiny sensors are placed inside your body, monitor your health and read out the results in real time? Scientists at University of California, Berkeley created wireless implantable body sensors in the size of dust particles.

Wireless implantable body sensors that stimulate nerves

The research published in Neuron Journal stated that the battery-less sensors can be benefit for the future of bioelectronics-based therapies. Michel M. Maharbiz, one of the research authors claimed that this sensor is the first device that can access in-body telemetry. Currently, there is no other way to put sensor so small and yet so deep inside the body.

The body sensors use ultrasonic system to monitor health and read the data. The ultrasound is also used as the wireless power.

Researchers tested the dust-sized body sensors in rats

The team previously experimented with rats. They implanted the wireless sensors in the rat's muscles and nerves. Wired wrote that there is piezoelectric crystal inside the sensor enables to convert ultrasound vibrations into electricity.

The team also explained that ultrasonic system is an efficient method used for supertiny device in millimeter size that goes inside the body. It gives huge power while being energy-efficient. This system enables the sensors to provide continual real-time data.

UC Berkeley researchers hope the sensor device could be clinically viable

The implantable wireless sensors system might still need a long way to finally be applied in human's body but the device hold a promising future according to the researchers. They are now trying to shrinking the already-tiny size sensors to find wider range of uses. Once it is set and ready, it can be used for treating disorders such as epilepsy. It might also be used for bladder control.

Here's the video of the future of brain machine interfaces