Bionic visual implants
When medicine and technology converge, many concepts once seen as science fiction move toward reality. Medical devices sit at the intersection of biology and technology, combining natural and artificial elements to improve human health. Here are several creative electronic medical devices.
Bionic ocular implants can help restore vision for people with blindness by placing a light-sensitive implant beneath the retina that detects light and transmits appropriate signals to the brain so the user can perceive the world.
French company PiximVIEW is working to realize this concept. Their device uses a miniature camera mounted on a pair of glasses to detect light entering the eye; light patterns are converted to infrared and sent to a coin-sized retinal microchip implant, which transforms the signals into electrical pulses that activate the optic nerve.
Patch-like vital-sign monitor
British company Toumaz developed a wireless vital-sign transmitter that resembles an adhesive patch (slightly thicker than a conventional plaster). When applied to the chest, the patch can continuously measure multiple vital signs and transmit the data in real time to a clinician's computer.
Bioprinting
Advances in 3D printing have made it possible to create human tissue models. L'Oréal has used Organovo skin models to replace certain animal testing, and BASF has collaborated with Poietis and CtiBiotech to improve skin models for drug testing.
Researchers aim beyond simple single-layer skin models toward clinically meaningful medical applications, such as regenerating tissues and organs. In Spain, BioDan prints skin for burn treatment. In France, 3D.FAB is working on projects ranging from printed living ears to regenerating cardiac patches made from stem cells.
Artificial heart
Heart failure affects tens of millions globally. The heart cannot regenerate, and donor organs are scarce, so artificial hearts are one potential solution.
French company Carmat is developing a biocompatible artificial heart that adjusts cardiac output by measuring blood pressure. Although the first patient with the device died after 75 days and the trial was paused, Carmat has resumed clinical trials in Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Kazakhstan.
Bionic surgical sealants
Surgeons increasingly focus on postoperative recovery, and effective wound closure is essential. Researchers are applying biological inspiration to improve surgical sealants.
In Paris, Gecko Biomedical drew inspiration from the adhesive structures geckos use to walk on walls and ceilings to develop a light-activated, biocompatible, and biodegradable surgical sealant. Another company, Biom'up, developed a surgical powder that constricts blood vessels to accelerate hemostasis.
Stem cell delivery device ("stem cell gun")
Despite the name, this device is designed for treatment. Renovacare developed a device that distributes a suspension of autologous stem cells across burns or wounds to accelerate skin healing. The stem cells are harvested from the patient's own skin and evenly applied to the injured area, potentially yielding better outcomes than conventional skin grafts.
One U.S. patient with 30% second-degree burns received this treatment and was discharged after four days, whereas skin grafting typically requires weeks and can leave permanent scarring. Renovacare is preparing for clinical trials.
Spinal cord regeneration implant
Because damaged nerves do not regenerate naturally in humans, spinal cord injuries can cause severe, permanent disability. Swedish company BioArctic is developing a biodegradable medical device intended to stimulate neural regeneration.
The device protects nerve grafts taken from the patient and gradually degrades as nerves regenerate, releasing FGF1, a growth factor that promotes nerve healing. The company is conducting Phase 1/2 clinical trials in Sweden, Estonia, and Norway to evaluate the device.
Allergy desensitization patch
Allergic reactions are commonplace for many people but can be life-threatening for others. French company DBV Technologies is developing a transdermal patch for allergen immunotherapy. Over time, the patch releases small amounts of allergen to induce immune tolerance and reduce sensitivity.
The primary application is peanut allergy in children aged 4–11, since exposure can be life-threatening. In a Phase 3 trial, 35% of treated children showed a response, though the difference versus placebo was modest. DBV is pursuing regulatory approval for the patch.
A second application under investigation is milk allergy desensitization; a Phase 2 trial is currently evaluating the patch in children with milk allergy.
Brain-computer interface
Technologies related to virtual reality also have clinical potential. Swiss company GTX is developing a brain implant designed to restore voluntary movement to paralyzed patients. The implant records brain signals and sends them to a computer that decodes which muscles should be stimulated and how.
Those decoded commands are then sent to implanted stimulators in the paralyzed limb to activate the correct muscles. The implant is intended to be used alongside a long-term rehabilitation program that has shown effectiveness in primate studies; GTX is working to translate the approach for human use.
