Scientists have learned to chip bones

Researchers from the Guthruff Laboratory at the University of Arizona have developed an ultra-thin device that firmly attaches to bones and can wirelessly transmit their health data.

This "bone surface electronics" contains an array of transducers packaged in a flexible housing the size of a small coin and the thickness of a sheet of paper. They can transfer bone data to a smartphone or other device. And they don't need a battery to operate - instead, power can be supplied externally using near-field communication (NFC).

In order for such a chip to be fixed for a very long time, the researchers created a special glue, containing ceramic particles of calcium phosphate, which allows the device to actually grow into bone. And the minimum thickness allows you not to irritate the muscles moving on top of it.

Scientists believe that such devices could be implanted in people with diseases such as osteoporosis to provide long-term monitoring of their bones. Or, they can help after a bone fracture or fracture so doctors can watch the healing process.

The team has already tested the device on animals, showing that they can be implanted into small and large species, and real-time data can be read using a smartphone. Research is still just beginning, and the question of how practical it might be in the case of humans is still open.