USC and UCLA unveil AI-powered, wireless spinal implant that delivers real-time, adaptive pain relief without drugs, batteries, or wires
Key Takeaways
- USC engineers develop the world’s first AI-enabled, battery-free spinal implant for personalized pain therapy
- Device uses wearable ultrasound to power and adapt stimulation in real time, bypassing opioid dependence
- AI achieves 94.8% accuracy in detecting pain levels, enabling on-demand, closed-loop pain management
AI and Ultrasound: Redefining the Future of Pain Therapy
USC and UCLA researchers have developed a groundbreaking implantable device designed to provide real-time, non-opioid pain relief using AI and ultrasound power. The flexible device, called the UIWI (Ultrasound-Induced Wireless Implantable) stimulator, is secured to the spine and works in harmony with an external wearable ultrasound transmitter. The device uses AI algorithms to read and classify pain levels from brain signals, then adapts electrical stimulation accordingly—offering a new paradigm in pain relief without the risks of opioids or battery replacement surgeries.
From Opioids to Algorithms: An Intelligent, Personalized Solution
Chronic pain affects over 51 million Americans. Traditional treatments rely on addictive opioids or bulky, invasive electrical implants. The UIWI device changes this landscape by wirelessly converting ultrasound energy into electrical impulses and customizing stimulation through a neural-network AI model (ResNet-18). It reads EEG signals, determines pain intensity, and auto-adjusts treatment—all in real time. With 94.8% accuracy in pain state detection, the system represents a significant leap in the personalization of pain care.
Flexible, Wireless, and Clinically Proven in Rodent Models
Designed to bend and twist naturally with the spine, the UIWI stimulator eliminates the need for wired power sources or repeated surgical interventions. Lab trials demonstrated the device’s ability to significantly reduce pain behaviors in rodents exposed to both mechanical and thermal stimuli. The closed-loop system ensures that treatment remains responsive to fluctuating pain signals—offering a dynamic, intelligent alternative to static pharmacological regimes.
A Blueprint for AI-Driven Bioelectronics
Led by Professor Qifa Zhou and detailed in Nature Electronics, the project is now setting the stage for future innovations in bioelectronic medicine. Miniaturized versions of the device could allow for syringe-based implantation, while future iterations may integrate smartphone control, real-time imaging, and wearable ultrasound arrays. The fusion of AI, biomechanics, and neurology opens new possibilities in chronic pain therapy—marking a pivotal step toward fully personalized, adaptive medicine.
About USC Viterbi School of Engineering
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a global leader in biomedical innovation, consistently ranked among the top research institutions in the world. The Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering pioneers transformative technologies at the intersection of medicine and AI, driving advances in diagnostics, implants, and therapeutic devices for next-generation patient care.
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