Denis Pasero, product commercialisation manager at Ilika, outlines the role micro batteries will have on implantable medical devices going forward.
It is no exaggeration to say that we are set to experience change in the design of implantable medical devices. Over the course of the next decade, a wave of new products will alter how we look at implants, as a range of miniature devices become available that can be implanted close to the target organs.
The ability to manufacture smaller devices also creates new opportunities. For example, a device can be designed into a replacement joint to provide real-time information on the condition of the joint itself, the patient’s overall health and irregularities such as misalignment and abnormal bone growth. This means that remedial treatment is possible sooner, while the issue is less serious. In the future, data gained from techniques like this will allow the design of better joint replacements. Similar techniques could be applied to orthodontics, where devices will be embedded in dental wearables to monitor the patient’s saliva for diagnostic purposes, while simultaneously observing the wearable for effectiveness and usage data.
Ilika plc (LON:IKA) is a pioneer in solid state battery technology enabling solutions for applications in Industrial IoT, MedTech, Electric Vehicles and Consumer Electronics.
