Nanolaminate Coating Extends Viability of Microimplants
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 01 Jan 2019 |
Image: SEM images of conformal ALD coating on the edges and corners of silicone (Photo courtesy of Picosun).
A novel atomic layer deposition (ALD) thin film coating can encapsulate minuscule electronic implants, extending their lifetime in the human body.
The Picosun (Espoo, Finland) PicoMEDICAL nanolaminate encapsulant is intended to provide reliable, hermetic sealing of implantable medical devices, ranging from micro-scale neural stimulators, diagnostic sensors, blood glucose sensors, intraocular, intracranial, and blood pressure monitors, and even artificial eyesight. The coating can also be applied to larger items, such as hip, knee, and dental implants. The thin film ALD coating is intrinsically biocompatible and remains inert inside the human body, uniformly covering even complex three-dimensional (3D) structures with nanoscale details.
Such minuscule devices are typically implanted for extended periods of time--from several months to well over ten years--making protection of their sensitive electronics against the corrosive environment inside the human body crucial. The opposite is also true; the body has to be protected against possible inflammatory reactions or immune rejection caused by the implant. Traditional encapsulation materials, such as titanium metal, ceramics, and polymers such as polyimide are suitable for larger implants such as pacemakers and orthopedic implants, but when size diminishes, novel encapsulation methods and materials are called for.
“There is an increasing number of customers in the healthcare industries that are now looking at ALD to solve some critical issues in their products. We at Picosun have developed a whole family of production-proven, turn-key PicoMEDICAL solutions specifically to answer this need,” said Jani Kivioja, PhD, CTO of Picosun Group. “The excellent results of our ALD encapsulation for biomedical microimplants prove that our technological knowhow and decades of experience in the field are now paving the way for a whole new generation of ALD-enabled healthcare solutions.”
ALD is a thin-film deposition technique based on sequential use of gas phase chemical vapor deposition. The majority of ALD reactions use two chemicals precursors that react with the surface of a material one at a time in a sequential, self-limiting, manner. Through the repeated exposure to separate precursors, a thin film is slowly deposited. ALD is a key process in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, and can also be applied at relatively low temperatures, which advocates their use on sensitive materials such as plastics and polymers.
Related Links:
Picosun
The Picosun (Espoo, Finland) PicoMEDICAL nanolaminate encapsulant is intended to provide reliable, hermetic sealing of implantable medical devices, ranging from micro-scale neural stimulators, diagnostic sensors, blood glucose sensors, intraocular, intracranial, and blood pressure monitors, and even artificial eyesight. The coating can also be applied to larger items, such as hip, knee, and dental implants. The thin film ALD coating is intrinsically biocompatible and remains inert inside the human body, uniformly covering even complex three-dimensional (3D) structures with nanoscale details.
Such minuscule devices are typically implanted for extended periods of time--from several months to well over ten years--making protection of their sensitive electronics against the corrosive environment inside the human body crucial. The opposite is also true; the body has to be protected against possible inflammatory reactions or immune rejection caused by the implant. Traditional encapsulation materials, such as titanium metal, ceramics, and polymers such as polyimide are suitable for larger implants such as pacemakers and orthopedic implants, but when size diminishes, novel encapsulation methods and materials are called for.
“There is an increasing number of customers in the healthcare industries that are now looking at ALD to solve some critical issues in their products. We at Picosun have developed a whole family of production-proven, turn-key PicoMEDICAL solutions specifically to answer this need,” said Jani Kivioja, PhD, CTO of Picosun Group. “The excellent results of our ALD encapsulation for biomedical microimplants prove that our technological knowhow and decades of experience in the field are now paving the way for a whole new generation of ALD-enabled healthcare solutions.”
ALD is a thin-film deposition technique based on sequential use of gas phase chemical vapor deposition. The majority of ALD reactions use two chemicals precursors that react with the surface of a material one at a time in a sequential, self-limiting, manner. Through the repeated exposure to separate precursors, a thin film is slowly deposited. ALD is a key process in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, and can also be applied at relatively low temperatures, which advocates their use on sensitive materials such as plastics and polymers.
Related Links:
Picosun
Latest Surgical Techniques News
- Miniaturized Implantable Multi-Sensors Device to Monitor Vessels Health
- Tiny Robots Made Out Of Carbon Could Conduct Colonoscopy, Pelvic Exam or Blood Test
- Miniaturized Ultrasonic Scalpel Enables Faster and Safer Robotic-Assisted Surgery
- AI Assisted Reading Tool for Small Bowel Video Capsule Endoscopy Detects More Lesions
- First-Ever Contact Force Pulsed Field Ablation System to Transform Treatment of Ventricular Arrhythmias
- Caterpillar Robot with Built-In Steering System Crawls Easily Through Loops and Bends
- Tiny Wraparound Electronic Implants to Revolutionize Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Small, Implantable Cardiac Pump to Help Children Awaiting Heart Transplant
- Gastrointestinal Imaging Capsule a Game-Changer in Esophagus Surveillance and Treatment
- World’s Smallest Laser Probe for Brain Procedures Facilitates Ablation of Full Range of Targets
- Artificial Intelligence Broadens Diagnostic Abilities of Conventional Coronary Angiography
- AI-Powered Surgical Visualization Tool Supports Surgeons' Visual Recognition in Real Time
- Cutting-Edge Robotic Bronchial Endoscopic System Provides Prompt Intervention during Emergencies
- Handheld Device for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery a Game Changer for Removal of High-Grade Glioma Brain Tumors
- Porous Gel Sponge Facilitates Rapid Hemostasis and Wound Healing
- Novel Rigid Endoscope System Enables Deep Tissue Imaging During Surgery