Smart, Self-Powered Spinal Implant Developed by Iranian Researcher

According to the Science and Technology Service of SaedNews, citing Interesting Engineering, Amir Alavi, along with Nitin Agarwal, assistant professors at the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Kojo Hamilton, have been awarded a $352,213 R21 grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop the first self-powered spinal implant capable of transmitting real-time data from within the body.

The project aims to make recovery from spinal fusion surgery safer by allowing doctors to monitor the healing process remotely and intervene before complications arise. In spinal fusion surgery, two vertebrae are joined using a metal cage and bone graft, then secured with screws and stabilizers. Monitoring recovery in this procedure typically requires X-rays and observation of patient symptoms.

Agarwal, a co-author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh, explains: “We monitor the graft using X-rays and visible patient symptoms. This means patients must visit in person and are exposed to radiation.”

Since continuous monitoring is challenging, post-surgery care has rarely been seamless. While wireless implantable devices existed previously, they relied on batteries and electronic components, limiting their lifespan.

Here, Alavi’s engineering background became crucial. As a doctoral student, he had developed sensors to monitor bridge infrastructure. These sensors generated their own power and sent alerts when signs of stress or weakness appeared. He realized the same concept could be applied to spinal implants. Alavi, the study’s lead researcher, notes: “No batteries, no antennas, no electronics—no worries in real-world conditions. By combining metamaterial designs with nanoscale energy harvesting, we created implants that power themselves through electrical charges generated by contact.”

Alavi’s team used metamaterials and human-made composites interwoven with conductive and non-conductive layers. These structures harvest energy and emit signals when pressure is applied.

In 2023, Alavi and Agarwal began integrating this technology with the cages used in spinal fusion. Their research showed that these implants enhance both monitoring and spinal stability during recovery.

The Iranian researcher explains: “We build cages for spinal fusion that mimic human cells and possess innate intelligence. As the spine heals, the implant’s signals change. A recovering spine bears more load, causing the implant’s signals to decrease. Immediately post-surgery, signals are stronger because the vertebral endplates exert more pressure on the cage.”

The implant’s signals are received via an electrode behind the patient and transmitted to a supercomputer, allowing physicians to analyze them in real time and intervene early to prevent serious complications.

Additionally, Alavi’s collaborators employed generative AI to customize the cages for individual patients.