A contraceptive computer chip that can be controlled by remote control has been developed in Massachusetts. The chip is implanted under a woman's skin, releasing a small dose of levonorgestrel, a hormone.This will happen every day for 16 years, but can be stopped at any time by using a wireless remote control.The project has been backed by Bill Gates, and will be submitted for pre-clinical testing in the US next year - and possibly go on sale by 2018. The device measures 20mm x 20mm x 7mm and will be "competitively priced", its creators said.
Convenience factor Tiny reservoirs of the hormone are stored on a 1.5cm-wide microchip within the device. A small electric charge melts an ultra-thin seal around the levonorgestrel, releasing the 30 microgram dose into the body. There are other types of contraceptive implant available, the researchers noted, but all require a trip to a clinic and…
