1a), providing a powerful point-of-care platform to facilitate rehabilitation and to manage musculoskeletal diseases.Ī Illustration of osseosurface electronic systems that are permanently bonded to the bone and operate wirelessly to continuously monitor biophysical signals such as bone strain, local temperature, and to deliver optical stimulation to the bone and surrounding tissues. The wireless, battery-free, and fully implantable devices, named osseosurface electronics, can be attached to the surface of bones during orthopedic surgeries and form a chronic interface with bone tissues to directly record a multitude of physiological and biophysical signals critical for the assessment of musculoskeletal health and deliver stimulation in real time (Fig. Here we introduce a device platform that uses intimate integration with the osseosurface, the surface of the bone, to enable chronic monitoring of the musculoskeletal system in small and large animal models and lays the foundation for clinical diagnostic tools that can be operated using broadly available near-field communication (NFC) standard in deep tissue. Thus, technologies that directly and continuously monitor bone quality 16, and enable exploratory research towards advanced therapeutics in a form factor that enables broad dissemination and a convenient study platform will considerably improve patient quality of life and reduce healthcare costs.
![soft operational research soft operational research](https://eijh.modares.ac.ir/files/eijh/arts_pdf_view/4631/-000010.png)
These fractures cause high mortality and long-term disability with healthcare cost over $25 billion per year by 2025 15. Just one example of clinical need are fragility fractures associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis that account for more hospital bed-days than myocardial infarction, breast cancer, or prostate cancer 14. One such area is the musculoskeletal system where wireless, battery-free interfaces are critical to evolve drug discovery, diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities 13.
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This technological platform enables wireless supply of power and communication for highly miniaturized implants, allowing for the creation of interfaces to organs that are currently understudied due to the lack of suitable tools. Recent integration of high-performance silicon-based devices 9 and emerging soft electronics 10 yields numerous subdermally implantable neuromodulation systems that interface intimately with the central and peripheral nervous system 11, 12. This is due to inadequate powering solutions, such as bulky electrochemical power supplies 6 and biointerfaces that degrade rapidly requiring intervention by users or health care providers, thus limiting the utility for exploratory, screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications 7, 8. However, current biosensing platforms with clinically relevant data streams rarely extend recording beyond short time periods. Specifically, with the emergence of computational tools such as neural networks, artificial intelligence, and machine learning that can help to analyze large datasets 2, 3, continuous high-quality data streams will enable the development of diagnostics and therapeutics that will result in significantly improved patient outcomes 4, 5. Battery-free device architecture, direct growth to the bone via surface engineered calcium phosphate ceramic particles, demonstration of operation in deep tissue in large animal models and readout with a smartphone highlight suitable characteristics for exploratory research and utility as a diagnostic and therapeutic platform.Ĭontinuous recording of bio-signals with high fidelity has been widely recognized to play a key role in modern exploratory research, diagnostics and therapeutics 1. Potential of this fully implanted device class is demonstrated via real-time recording of bone strain, millikelvin resolution thermography and delivery of optical stimulation in freely-moving small animal models. Here we introduce a new class of wireless battery-free devices, named osseosurface electronics, which feature soft mechanics, ultra-thin form factor and miniaturized multimodal biointerfaces comprised of sensors and optoelectronics directly adhered to the surface of the bone. Bones as a sensor and stimulation location offer tremendous advantages for chronic biointerfaces because devices can be permanently bonded and provide stable optical, electromagnetic, and mechanical impedance over the course of years. The musculoskeletal system is an understudied area where these new technologies can result in advanced capabilities.
![soft operational research soft operational research](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/softor-170514125320/95/operational-research-4-638.jpg)
Bioelectronic interfaces have been extensively investigated in recent years and advances in technology derived from these tools, such as soft and ultrathin sensors, now offer the opportunity to interface with parts of the body that were largely unexplored due to the lack of suitable tools.