Diamond-studded electrode implant to help neural disease
sufferers Fit to survive harsh environment but cause no harm
Diamonds adorning tiaras to anklets are treasures but these
gemstones inside the body may prove priceless. Two Case Western
Reserve University researchers are building implants made of
diamond and flexible polymer that are designed to identify
chemical and electrical changes in the brain of patients
suffering from neural disease, or to stimulate nerves and
restore movement in the paralyzed. The work of Heidi Martin, a
professor of chemical engineering, and Christian Zorman, a
professor of electrical engineering and computer science, is
years from human trials but their early success has drawn
interest worldwide. “Right now, we’re trying to develop diamond-
coated electrodes for implantable devices which last a
lifetime,” Martin said. “A patient would have one surgery and
that’s it.” For most materials, it’s hell inside the body. But
even inside us, a diamond is forever. Unlike standard electrod