A device, the width of a single human hair, has been created by the field of Optogenetics. This device has four chambers, contains microfluidic channels and microscale pumps, and is as soft as brain tissue, so as to not cause neural and swelling once they are implanted in brains to induce the required effect, by release of drugs and light. This is achieved by the principle of inorganic LED arrays. Control of the device is by remote.

“Now, we literally can deliver drug therapy with the press of a button,” says Jordan McCall, from Washington University in St Louis and part of the research team. “We’ve designed it to exploit infrared technology, similar to that used in a TV remote. If we want to influence an animal’s behavior with light or with a particular drug, we can simply point the remote at the animal and press a button.”

This device has been tested out by implanting in the brain of mice and has been successful in both triggering and blocking the release of dopamine. The researchers associated believe that this device usage could be extended to other organs, and eventually, be used to treat epilepsy, depression, pain and other neurological disorders.

[adinserter block=”7″]

Author:Technology Blog