A new organic transistor manufactured by several international researchers eases the process of implanting monitoring devices in patients, according to a recent Medgadget post. Such a device could ultimately help in detecting tumors, inflammations or cancers, according to the researchers.
The device--created by researchers from Japan, Germany and the U.S.--can withstand sterilization treatments in temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius. Their work was published online in the journal Nature Communications.
"Up until now ... the existing organic transistors had huge obstacles towards the practical usage in the health and medical field," University of Tokyo officials said in a statement.
The researchers, led by professor Takao Someya, created a similar transistor in 2004, but a "thick organic polymer that was used as an insulator film" caused the driving voltage to be too high. The insulator film for this transistor, which consists of aluminum-oxide and self-assembled monolayer, can handle 2 Volts of electricity.
Another implantable sensor created at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and also reported on by Medgadget has the ability to monitor bones as they heal after surgical procedures. The device, which measures 4 millimeters in diameter, has the potential to reduce the number of post-operation medical imaging tests needed, according to researchers, and is powered by a second device used to also read gathered data.
For more information:
- here's the Medgadget post on the first device
- read this announcement from the University of Tokyo
- check out this article in Nature Communications (registration required)
- read about this other implantable sensor