2D Material-Based Injectable Sensor for Minimally-Invasive Cerebral Blood Flow Monitoring

Monitoring cerebral blood flow is an important method for diagnosing and treating brain diseases. Thermal transport caused by blood flow provides valuable information for detecting abnormalities in blood flow. Here, a minimally invasive, injectable blood flow sensor is reported, consisting of a flexible, graphene-based thin film heater and MoS₂-based temperature sensor array integrated on a mesh-structured polymer substrate. Upon injection through a small skull hole in the skull, the device unfolds and achieves conformal contact on the cortical surface, aligning with the target vessel. By measuring temperature variations in response to the heater activation, the injectable sensor continuously monitors blood flow changes in the underlying vessel. This approach offers a new potential for cerebral blood flow sensing via minimally invasive implantation.