micromechanical system


micromechanical system

(mī″krō-mĕ-kăn′ĭ-kĭl),

MEMS

Any miniature electromechanical device implanted into a prosthesis used to determine if the implanted body part is functioning optimally, e.g., tolerating body temperature, load, or pressure or other forms of biological stress. Micromechanical systems are biological sensors that transmit data obtained from within body parts via radio waves to a receiver located outside the body. They have been used as adjuncts to surgery, to identify subtle bleeding from aneurysms or endografts, or to indicate when orthopedic implants are failing or likely to fail.