Implants & Prosthetics

Implantable Piezoelectric Polymer Improves Controlled Release of Drugs

A membrane made from threads of a polymer commonly used in vascular sutures can be loaded with therapeutic drugs and implanted in the body, where mechanical forces...

Biodegradable Nanoprobe Illuminates Tumors Brightly and Precisely

To highlight tumors in the body for cancer diagnosis, doctors can use tiny optical probes (nanoprobes) that light up when they attach to tumors.

Xenon Improves Properties of Maxillofacial and Orthopedic Implants

See the kind of impact that xenon has on coatings.

Low-Cost, Customized Prosthesis Using 3D Printing

A novel 3D printed prosthetic arm is more comfortable, flexible, and cheaper than a conventional prosthesis.

Creating the Future: Implantable ICD Eliminates Wires & Offers Painless Defibrillation

An award-winning pacing system eliminates shocks, leads, and wires.

Small Brain Implant Helps Paralyzed Patients

A paper-clip-sized device has been shown to help patients with upper limb paralysis to text, e-mail, and even shop online in the first human trial.

Implantable Device Can Monitor and Treat Heart Disease

Bioelectronics are based on fully rubbery electronic materials that are compatible with heart tissue.

Smart Wrap Implant Helps Bladder Control

An implantable smart wrap that fits safely and securely around the bladder may one day help people who have underactive bladders. The implant is an integrated device that can detect when the bladder...

New Material Family Could Build Realistic Prosthetics

Researchers have developed a new family of polymers that can self-heal, have shape memory, and are recyclable.

Mixing Silk with Polymers Could Lead to Better Biomedical Implants

Combining silk fabric with epoxy creates laminates that can be formed into shapes for medical uses.

Thin Film Electrodes Show Potential for Transforming Neurosurgery

Thin-film technology could soon offer a less invasive and more cost-effective solution to enhance neurosurgery for people with neurological brain conditions, including epilepsy.

Spinal Stimulators Repurposed to Restore Touch in Lost Limb

Spinal cord stimulators could provide sensory feedback to a prosthetic arm.

New Plastic Biomaterial Could Lead to Tougher, More Versatile Medical Implants

A new thermoplastic biomaterial, which is tough and strong but also easy to process and shape has been developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham. A...

Tiny, Magnetically Powered Implant Stimulates Brain Without Battery

Tests show that ‘magnetoelectric’ power is viable option for clinical-grade implants.

High-Reliability Capacitors: Critical Components for Medical Device Implantables

Learn about requirements, regulations, and testing procedures for medical device capacitors.

Device Improves Performance of Underactive Bladders

Researchers have developed a technology that can monitor bladder volume in real time and can effectively empty a person’s bladder.

Implantable Biosensor Operates Without Batteries

The biodegradable motion sensor paves the way for implanted nanotechnology.

Recording Device Could Help Development of Brainwave-Controlled Devices, Including Prosthetics

Researchers have developed a new method to accurately record brain activity at scale.

Researchers Incorporate Computer Vision, Uncertainty into AI for Robotic Prosthetics

The software enables people using robotic prosthetics to walk in a more natural manner on different types of terrain.

Drug-Loaded Microrobots Attach to Cancer Tissue

A drug-loaded microrobotic needle effectively targets cancerous tissue in lab experiments without needing continuous application of a magnetic field.

Light-Based Deep Brain Stimulation Relieves Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Fast-acting, light-reactive genetic tools could reveal how deep brain stimulation works.

Off-the-Shelf Artificial Cardiac Patch Repairs Heart Attack Damage in Rats, Pigs

The patch can deliver cardiac cell-derived healing factors directly to the site of heart attack injury.

Carl Stahl Sava Industries Partners with Abilitech Medical on Revolutionary Upper-Limb Wearable Device

The proliferation of wearable robotics and exoskeletons is earnestly underway around the world. In virtually any area of one’s personal...

Cardiac Patch with Bioink Developed to Repair Heart

The new method could be a breakthrough treatment of myocardial infarction.

Stretchable, Wearable Coils May Make MRI, Other Medical Tests Easier on Patients

The stretchable fabric is embroidered with conductive threads that provide excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

Breakthrough: Long-Term Heart Valve Developed for Children

A breakthrough design could spare children from repeated operations to replace outgrown valves and could also benefit adults with valve defects. The new design could allow children...

Magnet-Controlled Bioelectronic Implant Could Relieve Pain

Engineers have created the first neural implant that can be both programmed and charged remotely with a magnetic field. Their breakthrough may make possible embedded devices like a...

Engineers Design Bionic ‘Heart’ for Testing Prosthetic Valves, Other Cardiac Devices

The device made of heart tissue and a robotic pumping system beats like the real thing.

Improving Prosthetics for Upper Limb Amputees

New machine learning algorithms and computational models may provide insight into the mental demand placed on individuals using prosthetics.