Glass-Based Biodegradable Pressure Sensor Toward Biomechanical Monitoring With a Controllable Lifetime

Abstract

A new class of potentially implantable solid-state sensors is demonstrated utilizing biodegradable glass as main structural material. The device behavior is manipulated via chemical decomposition, and then physically disintegrated in a controlled manner. It is based on the capacitive sensing mechanism, comprising an elastic insulator between two borate-rich glass substrates. This meso-scale pressure sensor is characterized over a range of pressure of up to 14 MPa in a phosphate buffer solution environment. The sensor exhibits good sensitivity and reversibility responding to compressive pressures and remains fully functional before a desired, sudden failure caused by dissolution. The operational lifetime can be modified by altering the chemical composition or thickness of the biodegradable glass component. The proposed device concept is a viable option toward various temporary implantable devices without needing an additional surgical procedure to remove them after their duty.