John Rogers has developed a wireless, self-powered, bioresorbable implant for programmed drug delivery, enabling precision pain management.
When exposed to an external light source, the implant’s wavelength-sensitive phototransistor opens a gate, releasing a pre-loaded reservoir of a drug into the body. It dissolves after the regimen is complete, eliminating the need for surgery to remove it.
The device has been tested on rats, and will move to human trials after further safety tests.
John Rogers discussed soft electronics for the human body at the 2018 ApplySci conference at the MIT Media Lab.