According to the British "Daily Mail" reported on August 3, researchers have developed an implantable sensor the size of a grain of sand that could one day treat a variety of diseases such as epilepsy.

It may sound like a science fiction movie, but experts have actually developed a "neural dust" sensor that can be implanted in the body. It can be placed in the brain to monitor internal nerves and muscles, or it can be placed in organs.

What is unique about neural dust is that its ultrasound can quickly move forward and read out the measured value.

Ryan Neely, a graduate student in the Department of Neurological Research, said: "Initially, the Neurodust project was just about imagining the next generation of brain-computer interfaces that could be used in clinical technology. If a paraplegic wants to operate a computer or a robotic arm, they can have electrodes implanted in their brain for essentially a lifetime."

Neurodust sensors also open the door to electroceuticals, which can help treat epilepsy patients, stimulate the immune system and suppress inflammation.

Michel Maharbiz, co-author of the paper and associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, said: "The long-term vision is not limited to the nerve and brain, the scope of use is much broader." Previous treatments that have been implanted in the body have not been possible because we can't hide ultra-tiny things in extremely deep places. But now, we can put it near nerves or organs, on the gastrointestinal tract or muscles, and read the data.

At present, the research team is working to further shrink the neural dust sensor, find more compatible materials, and improve the performance of the surface transceiver to receive and transmit ultrasonic waves.