A new
breakthrough in medical technology has been made in the field of “transient
electronics.” U.S. scientists have conducted successful trails of testing on ultra
thin electronics, which can be used to heat wounds to ward off infection by
bacteria after surgery. These electronics, which are made of silicon and
magnesium oxide, are capable of “melting” in a matter of days or weeks due to
the properties of thin sheets of silicon, called a nanomembrane. As Tufts
School of Engineering’s own Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto explains:
"Transient electronics offer robust performance comparable to current
devices but they will fully resorb into their environment at a prescribed time,
ranging from minutes to years." Other scientists have also made
suggestions about possible uses of these silicon-based electronics. Possible
ideas include using this technology to regulate the release of drugs inside the
body and to build environmentally-friendly computers or mobile phones.
According to Professor Omenetto, “Imagine the environmental benefits if cell
phones, for example, could just dissolve instead of languishing in landfills
for years.”
Reference: Gallagher, James. ""Melt in the Body" Electronics Devised."BBC World News. BBC, 27 Sep 2012. Web. 3 Oct 2012. .
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