- UC Irvine scientists develop hidden charging interface for long-term implanted medical devices
- Needle access socket powers implants without permanently exposing electrical connections
- Researchers achieve 16 Mbps data transfers via temporary implant-to-needle connections
A persistent challenge in bioelectronics is that exposed sockets encourage microbial infections, while wireless charging antennas remain bulky.
Scientists at the University of California, Irvine have developed an implantable power outlet that stays under the skin and is accessible with a simple needle insertion.
Called implantable bioelectronic output (IBO), the device remains under the skin until electrical access is needed for charging, maintenance or data retrieval.
Latest videos fromTechRadar
A three-tier memory architecture built around SSD offload
The researchers describe the implant as a general access point compatible with sensors, neural interfaces, stimulators and battery-powered systems already used in medicine.
The device is made primarily of soft, spongy plastic containing pores about 150 micrometers wide, comparable to the diameter of a very fine needle.
The sponge was first immersed in a highly conductive polymer, covering its pores with a layer between 100 and 200 nanometers thick.
They then applied a silicone rubber solution to form a protective, electrically insulating wrap around the exterior surface.
Multiple coated sponge layers were sandwiched between unmodified sponge layers and fully covered with silicone rubber to complete the module.
According to Hyung Joon Shim, a postdoctoral researcher in electrical engineering at UC Irvine, the device stays entirely under the skin between uses.
A needle is inserted only when electrical access becomes necessary and is removed immediately thereafter.
In tests on mice and rats, researchers paired the sockets with neural interface implants to recharge batteries and transfer data.
Data transfer reached almost 16 Mbps, matching the maximum possible speed of the implants during these experimental sessions.
Separate experiments in pigs paired the plugs with stimulation implants, delivering 20-microampere electrical pulses each lasting 100 milliseconds over prolonged periods.
The porous structure resisted cracking after more than 100 needle insertions with gauges ranging from 18 to 30.
Moving from laboratory results to real-world applications
The implanted outlets remained in the mice for more than a year without degrading or causing any visible complications.
Jennifer Gelinas, associate professor of pediatrics, anatomy and neurobiology at UC Irvine, said long-term safety is among the most critical requirements for any implantable technology.
Since the test animals were anesthetized during the loading sessions, real-world use in awake patients would require different needle placement.
Gelinas suggested that medical tape or an adhesive bandage, similar to methods used for standard intravenous needles, could stabilize the connection point.
Passing a needle through the skin would likely cause brief discomfort comparable to a standard injection.
Future versions could incorporate smaller needles, topical anesthetics or specialized coatings designed to reduce pain and inflammation during use.
Since the exit needle would not require a hollow channel for fluid delivery, it could potentially be thinner than conventional injection needles.
Scientists say this socket could complement wireless technology, reserving access to the needles specifically for fast charging or large data transfers.
That said, the research team cautioned that assessment of pain, infection risk, and tissue response during repeated access sessions remains necessary before any testing begins on a patient.
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds.
