The Insertion Shuttle Integrated with a Microfluidic Channel for Delivering Subdermal Implantable Electronics

Abstract

Implantable biomedical devices in flexible forms are attractive as they are more mechanically compatible with soft live tissues than rigid forms. Flexible implants can bend comfortably instead of delivering stress or strain to surrounding live tissues when they are exposed to external stresses. Mechanical properties of flexible implants cause practical challenges for ones to insert them through small incision of live tissues, because flexible implants are susceptible to bending and wrinkling. Here, we present an innovative insertion shuttle which delivers flexible implants through the live tissues. Implants remain on the post array in our shuttle when they are inserted to tissues. At a target location, implants are released from the post array. For this release process, a microfluidic channel is designed here to dissolve adhesive materials between the implants and the shuttle with a solvent. Experimental studies with variations in design parameters, such as the post radius and the interval between posts in the array, provide a design guidance to the insertion shuttle. Our in vivo tests with functional flexible electronic implants demonstrate the feasibility of the concepts.