<\/p>\n Called the Implantable Bioelectronic Outlet (IBO), the device remains beneath the skin until electrical access is needed for charging, maintenance, or data retrieval.<\/p>\n Latest Videos FromTechRadar<\/p>\n A three-tier memory architecture built around SSD offloading<\/p>\n Researchers describe the implant as a general access point compatible with sensors, neural interfaces, stimulators, and battery-powered systems already used in medicine.<\/p>\n The device consists mostly of soft spongy plastic containing pores roughly 150 micrometers wide, comparable to a very fine needle’s diameter.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n The sponge was first dipped into a highly conductive polymer, coating its pores with a layer between 100 and 200 nanometers thick.<\/p>\n They then applied a silicone rubber solution to form a protective, electrically insulating jacket around the exterior surface.<\/p>\n Several jacketed sponge layers were sandwiched between unmodified sponge layers and covered entirely in silicone rubber to complete the module.<\/p>\n According to Hyung Joon Shim, a postdoctoral scholar in electrical engineering at UC Irvine, the device stays fully beneath the skin between uses.<\/p>\n A needle is inserted only when electrical access becomes necessary and is removed immediately afterward.<\/p>\n What to read next<\/p>\n In tests on mice and rats, researchers coupled the outlets with neural interface implants to recharge batteries and transfer data.<\/p>\n Data transfer reached nearly 16 Mbps, matching the implants’ maximum possible speed during these experimental sessions.<\/p>\n Separate pig experiments paired the outlets with stimulation implants, delivering 20-microampere electrical pulses lasting 100 milliseconds each over extended periods.<\/p>\n The porous structure resisted cracking after more than 100 needle insertions with gauges ranging from 18 to 30.<\/p>\n Moving from lab results to real-world applications<\/p>\n The implanted outlets remained in the mice for over a year without degrading or causing visible complications.<\/p>\n Jennifer Gelinas, associate professor of pediatrics and anatomy and neurobiology at UC Irvine, said long-term safety is among the most critical requirements for any implantable technology.<\/p>\n Since test animals were anesthetized during charging sessions, real-world use in awake patients would require a different needle placement.<\/p>\n Gelinas suggested medical tape or an adhesive dressing, similar to methods used for standard intravenous needles, could stabilize the connection point.<\/p>\n Passing a needle through skin would likely cause brief discomfort comparable to a standard injection.<\/p>\n Future versions might incorporate smaller needles, topical anesthetics, or specialized coatings designed to reduce pain and inflammation during use.<\/p>\n Because the outlet needle would not require a hollow channel for fluid delivery, it could potentially be made thinner than conventional injection needles.<\/p>\n The scientists claim that this outlet could complement wireless technology, reserving needle access specifically for fast charging or large data transfers.<\/p>\n That said, the research team cautioned that evaluating pain, infection risk, and tissue response across repeated access sessions remains necessary before any patient testing begins.<\/p>\n \n Follow TechRadar on Google News<\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UC Irvine scientists develop hidden charging interface for long-term implanted medical devicesNeedle-access outlet powers implants without permanently 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