- UC Irvine scientists develop hidden charging interface for long-term implanted medical devices
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- Researchers achieve 16 Mbps data transfers via temporary implant-needle connections
A persistent challenge in bioelectronics is that exposed sockets invite microbial infection, while wireless charging antennas remain bulky.
Scientists at the University of California, Irvine have developed an implantable power outlet that remains beneath the skin and is accessed through a simple needle insertion.
Called the Implantable Bioelectronic Outlet (IBO), the device remains beneath the skin until electrical access is needed for charging, maintenance, or data retrieval.
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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 consists mostly of soft spongy plastic containing pores roughly 150 micrometers wide, comparable to a very fine needle’s diameter.
The sponge was first dipped into a highly conductive polymer, coating its pores with a layer between 100 and 200 nanometers thick.
They then applied a silicone rubber solution to form a protective, electrically insulating jacket around the exterior surface.
Several jacketed sponge layers were sandwiched between unmodified sponge layers and covered entirely in silicone rubber to complete the module.
According to Hyung Joon Shim, a postdoctoral scholar in electrical engineering at UC Irvine, the device stays fully beneath the skin between uses.
A needle is inserted only when electrical access becomes necessary and is removed immediately afterward.
In tests on mice and rats, researchers coupled the outlets with neural interface implants to recharge batteries and transfer data.
Data transfer reached nearly 16 Mbps, matching the implants’ maximum possible speed during these experimental sessions.
Separate pig experiments paired the outlets with stimulation implants, delivering 20-microampere electrical pulses lasting 100 milliseconds each over extended periods.
The porous structure resisted cracking after more than 100 needle insertions with gauges ranging from 18 to 30.
Moving from lab results to real-world applications
The implanted outlets remained in the mice for over a year without degrading or causing visible complications.
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.
Since test animals were anesthetized during charging sessions, real-world use in awake patients would require a different needle placement.
Gelinas suggested medical tape or an adhesive dressing, similar to methods used for standard intravenous needles, could stabilize the connection point.
Passing a needle through skin would likely cause brief discomfort comparable to a standard injection.
Future versions might incorporate smaller needles, topical anesthetics, or specialized coatings designed to reduce pain and inflammation during use.
Because the outlet needle would not require a hollow channel for fluid delivery, it could potentially be made thinner than conventional injection needles.
The scientists claim that this outlet could complement wireless technology, reserving needle access specifically for fast charging or large data transfers.
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.
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