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95 points lnyan | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0.498s | source
1. userbinator ◴[] No.43619182[source]
It has also been designed to dissolve into the body when no longer needed, sparing patients invasive surgery.

More likely, it will just remain a (hopefully) inert embedded implant. If it has active electronics, and thus semiconductors, I doubt e.g. silicon will dissolve.

Edit: care to refute?

replies(2): >>43619635 #>>43620820 #
2. tatjam ◴[] No.43619635[source]
I've access to the article, this snippet explains it (taken directly from the article, but formatted for HN).

"The device exploits a self-powered mechanism, where the battery electrodes are the pacing electrodes. Specifically, an active, bioresorbable magnesium (Mg) alloy AZ31(Mg 96 Al 3 Zn 1) foil or a zinc (Zn) composite (1.6 mm × 1.6 mm) serves as the anode, and a more electropositive bioresorbable molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) composite (1.6 mm × 1.6 mm) serves as the cathode 18–20.

The cardiac tissue and associated biofluids act as the electrolyte to form a galvanic cell/battery (Mg–MoO3 or Zn–MoO 3). As a demonstration, the pacemaker utilizes the Mg–MoO3 pair if not otherwise specified. The two electrodes electrically interconnect through a silicon (Si) bipolar junction phototransistor (Supplementary Figs. 1 and 2), designed to respond at tissue-penetrating wavelengths in the near-infrared (NIR) range. This component provides an optical mechanism to control the operation of the device with an external light source. In particular, the anode and cathode connect to the emitter and the collector terminals of the phototransistor, respectively, using a biodegradable conductive paste (Candelilla wax/tungsten (W) powder)21. A bioresorbable formulation of polyanhydride 22 or wax 21 encapsulates the entire structure, leaving regions of the electrodes exposed to the interface with the cardiac tissue. These unusual materials, components, and operating mechanisms serve as the basis for the pacing technology"

Indeed there's no comment about the "bioresorbability" of silicon, possibly it's such an small quantity it doesn't matter.

3. fluidcruft ◴[] No.43620820[source]
I think the pacing/logic part is in the patch worn on the skin surface. From what I understand the rice grain part converts an optical signal it sends into an evoked potential.