The Implant That Literally Freezes Away Pain

TL;DR

Researchers have developed an implantable device that uses cold to minimize post-operative pain by cooling down nerves.

Transcript

If you’ve ever had surgery, slowly  coming out of the anesthesia-induced lull can be great until you are suddenly hit  with the excruciating post-operative pain. Yes, there are plenty of medications  that can help relieve that pain. But they can have some unpleasant side  effects, as well as the risk of dependency. Which is why researchers have bee... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥶 The implantable device uses cold to minimize post-operative pain and is inspired by the numbing effect of ice.
• 😎 The device utilizes a combination of chemicals to recreate the cooling effect on nerves.
• 😎 Microfluidic channels are used to hold the chemicals and allow them to combine, triggering the cooling effect.
• ❓ The temperature must be carefully regulated to prevent nerve damage.
• 🪡 The device is bioresorbable and dissolves within a month, eliminating the need for additional surgery for its removal.
• 🕴️ The implantable device is best suited for surgical procedures that isolate involved nerves and when opioids are expected to be required post-operation.
• 💨 The device is still in the early stages of research and human trials are years away.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the implantable device control post-operative pain?

The device cools down nerves by using a combination of two chemicals, which recreates the cooling effect of ice. By reaching a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, pain signals are minimized.

Q: What are the potential risks of constantly cooling the nerves?

Constantly cooling nerves can lead to neuropathy, causing permanent nerve damage. To mitigate this, the device contains a thermal sensor to regulate the temperature and prevent dangerous cold exposure.

Q: Who would be the best candidates for this implantable device?

The device would be most effective for surgical procedures that isolate the involved nerves and when opioids are expected to be required post-operation, such as amputations.

Q: How long until the device is ready for human trials?

Due to the invasive nature of the device and the need for further research, it will be years before the device is ready to be tested on humans.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Researchers at Northwestern University have created an implantable device that cools down nerves to minimize post-operative pain.

• The device uses a combination of two chemicals to recreate the cooling effect of ice on nerves.

• The device, which is bioresorbable, dissolves within a month, eliminating the need for surgical removal.