A new device platform allows for smaller wireless light sources to be placed within the human body. Research indicates that such light sources will enable novel, minimally invasive means of treating and better understanding diseases which currently require the implantation of bulky devices.

The novel approach is based on the integration of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) on acoustic antennas. OLEDs consist of thin layers of organic materials that can be deposited on almost any surface. The wireless light-emitting device targets optical stimulation that has emerged as a promising alternative to electrical stimulation because it can be more cell selective and even enable the stimulation of individual cells via genetic modification. Such techniques have already shown promising results in early clinical trials, for instance, in treating an otherwise untreatable eye disease.

In the future, this could allow for the individual addressing of multiple stimulators in different parts of the body, for instance, to treat debilitating neurological disorders. (Image credit: University of St. Andrews)

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Topics:
Diseases Implants & Prosthetics Medical Medical equipment and supplies Medical, health and wellness Optics Prostheses and implants Research and development

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    This article first appeared in the July, 2024 issue of Medical Design Briefs Magazine.

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