Tiny, Charred Bunny Could Help Treat Epilepsy

Jun-01-13 A new, light sensitive resin that can be sculpted into a conductive structure could lead to epilepsy-treating brain implants and a bevy of tiny bunnies able to withstand charring.

The Japanese team created bacterium-sized Stanford Bunny, a commonly used 3D modeling shape, using a 3D printer and a resin containing Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether (RDGE). The light sensitive, liquid resin can be baked at very high temperatures without suffering major distortion, which opens the door to new generations of microscopic conductive materials made in complex shapes. Currently, the resins that work best with 3D printers cannot handle the carbonizing required to increase the resin’s conductivity.

Eventually, the printing material and technique could be used to develop customized microelectrodes that could be implanted in the brain to help treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and depression.

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