S

CIENTISTS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

have created the world’s smallest micro-

chip, which can be implanted into the

body and may eventually be able to detect

medical conditions such as strokes. The

chips, called motes, are the size of dust

mites, measuring less than 0.1 cubic mil-

limeter, and can only be seen under a microscope.

Motes operate as a single-chip system, complete

with their own electronic circuit. They’re implanted

via hypodermic needle, and the data they collect is

read using an ultrasound machine. And though the

chips have only been tested in lab rats, the Columbia

team hopes that one day they can assist in monitoring

everything from glucose levels to oxygen saturation.

“These devices can be designed to sense things

and communicate this information back to the

ultrasound image, which also provides biogeograph-

The World’s

Smallest

Implantable

Chip Might

Save Your Life

One Day

Piezoelectric
transducer provides
power to, and
transmits data
with, the circuit

Anisotropic

conductive

film connects

transducer to

ground pad

Aluminum

input pad

Aluminum

ground pad

50-nanometer

gold layer

to enhance

the connection

Conformal copper

layer connects

transducer

to input pad

Temperature

sensor

integrated

circuit

November/December 2021 21

COURTESY CHEN SHI/COLUMBIA ENGINEERING

Bioengineering

5

// B Y C O U R T N E Y L I N D E R //