Scientists have created tiny medical devices sealed in silk cocoons that dissolve after their work is complete.
For now the work is being tested in mice, but if it continues to move forward it could not only increase convenience and safety in human patients, but also cut down on electronic waste, according to Modern Healthcare.
Right now doctors already use implants that dispense drugs or provide electrical stimulation, but they don’t dissolve, which causes the need for surgical removal and adds the risk of long-term side effects.
Source:
http://healthcare.dmagazine.com/2012/09/27/new-devices-do-their-work-then-dissolve-in-the-body/