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Neural implant smaller than salt grain wirelessly tracks brain

18 days ago
  • #wireless technology
  • #brain monitoring
  • #neural implant
  • Cornell researchers developed a neural implant smaller than a grain of salt, called MOTE, that wirelessly transmits brain activity data for over a year.
  • The MOTE is powered by red and infrared laser beams, uses pulse position modulation for low-power communication, and measures 300 microns long and 70 microns wide.
  • Tested in mice, the MOTE successfully recorded electrical and synaptic brain activity without causing significant tissue disruption or immune response.
  • The technology could enable brain activity recordings during MRI scans and has potential applications in other tissues like the spinal cord.
  • The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and involved collaboration with Cornell Neurotech and the Cornell NanoScale Facility.