Medical Devices Dissolve with Light

Jan-20-20 Ingestible medical devices that can be dissolved by light could eliminate the need for surgical removal.

The ingestible devices are based on a light-sensitive polymer developed by researchers at MIT, which features a chemical bond that will break down when exposed to light wavelengths between blue and ultraviolet. The polymer was also combined with another material for added durability, and the rate of breakdown can be controlled by how much of the light-sensitive polymer is in the mix.

The material could have applications in gastrointestinal and esophageal procedures, where it could be dissolvedvafter use and passed through the digestive tract.

Image Credits: Ritu Raman/MIT

More Info about this Invention:

[NEWATLAS.COM]
[NEWS.MIT.EDU]

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