Innovative Wireless Flexible Implant Detects Pain and Delivers Targeted Electrical Therapy

Chronic pain afflicts a significant portion of the population, characterized by persistent or recurring discomfort in specific body regions. It can severely impair daily life, with approximately 20.9% of adults in the United States experiencing it at some point, and nearly 7% suffering from severe pain that hampers their well-being.

Traditional treatments mainly rely on pain medications, including opioids, which pose risks of addiction and adverse side effects, often leading to more harm than benefit. As a result, researchers are exploring alternative pain management strategies that avoid dependency and provide effective relief.

One promising approach involves implantable electrical stimulators, surgically placed devices that send electrical signals to nerves or the spinal cord to alleviate pain. However, current implant solutions often have drawbacks: invasive surgeries that can damage tissue, high costs, and the need for battery replacements.

Recently, scientists at the University of Southern California and other institutions introduced a pioneering device—a flexible, wireless, and battery-free implantable stimulator—that aims to overcome these limitations. Published in Nature Electronics, this device is powered remotely via an external ultrasound transmitter and incorporates machine learning algorithms to analyze pain levels, adjusting stimulation accordingly.

The implant consists of a composite piezoelectric receiver, micro-electronic components, and electrodes integrated into a pliable printed circuit board. When activated by the wearable ultrasound device, it can generate targeted electrical impulses to the spinal cord, tailored to the patient's current pain state.

In preclinical tests involving rodents experiencing varied pain levels, the device successfully predicted stress levels and adapted its electrical signals in real-time, effectively reducing discomfort. The researchers demonstrated that this self-adaptive stimulation could be precisely targeted and personalized, marking a significant step in non-invasive pain management.

Looking ahead, this technology has the potential to be refined further and tested in human trials. Its design might inspire new ultrasound-based devices for chronic pain relief, offering a minimally invasive, efficient alternative to existing methods, and reducing reliance on drugs with harmful side effects.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-flexible-implant-pain-electrical-wirelessly.html