Scientistsin Taiwan have invented a high-tech way to relieve pain, and it maychange the future of medical treatment. It’s not a pill. In fact,it’s unlike anything you’d find in your medicine cabinet at home.Led by Taiwan National University (NTU), the research team hascreated a microchip that can be placed inside a user’s body. Afterthe chip is inserted, the user can activate it and experience relieffrom pain simply by swiping a card-like machine by the chip, the sameway you would swipe a subway card over a sensor. It sounds likesomething out of a science-fiction story, but it’s actually real.The invention should be ready for public use in a couple of years.The microchip, which only costs US$10, is inserted near the spinalcord. The chip stimulates spinal nerves and alleviates pain when itis swiped by a machine about the size of a cell phone. Each swipe isexpected to be valid for three months of pain relief.

      Sofar, the product has only been tested on lab rats. Human tests willtake place soon, and the creators are optimistic about the results.If it succeeds, it should offer a helpful new way to relief pain forpeople all over the world. It will also mean significant profitsbecause the chip is incredibly inexpensive to produce, and it ispredicted that it will bring in some US$23 million annually by 2013.Aside from being cheaper, the chip will likely have other advantagesover current methods of relief for chronic pain.For example, one popular method being used now is called FunctionalElectrical Stimulation (FES), but it requires surgery, follow-upsurgery, and regular x-rays. This new microchip and other inventionssure to follow are changing medical treatments in big ways.