An interdisciplinary group of scientists envision an intelligent implant covered in microelectronic mechanical systems (MEMs)-based biosensors that could detect debilitating infections early and identify the bacteria responsible.

The implant would then provide therapy by dispensing the appropriate antibacterial compound from an internal reservoir and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. In addition, the implant would be able to communicate what it had done back to a physician using wireless technology.

“Two to three percent of total joint replacements fail due to chronic bacterial biofilm infections. The only recourse for such patients is the traumatic removal of the implant which results in additional bone loss, extensive soft tissue destruction, months of forced bed rest with intravenous antibiotics and significant loss of quality of life due to complete loss of mobility,” says Garth Ehrlich of the Center for Genomic Sciences at the Allegheny Singer Research Institute in Pittsburgh, one of the organizers of the working group.

Ehrlich presented the group’s vision at the American Society for Microbiology’s Conference on Bio- Micro- and Nanosystems.

American Society for Microbiology press release