microdevice
Very small apparatus
A microdevice is any extremely small device, typically at the scale of micrometers or millimeters.
The term appears most often in medical and engineering contexts: The surgeon implanted a microdevice to monitor blood pressure.
Microdevices include sensors, chips, pumps, and other miniaturized components designed for precision applications where size constraints matter.
Accepted by living tissue
- pacemakerDevice regulating heartbeat
- neurostimulatorImplanted nerve-signaling device
- cochlearOf the spiral ear cavity
- biochipMolecular-scale diagnostic platform
stent · defibrillator · intraocular · prosthesis · subcutaneous · implantable · transdermal · mesh
Microscale electromechanical devices
- lithographyGrease-based flat plate printing
- photolithographyLight-transfers patterns onto silicon
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
semiconductor · silicon · cleanroom · wafer · deposition · nanotechnology · transistor · microelectronics
Device measuring motion forces
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- biosensorBiological chemical detection device
- photodiodeLight-to-current semiconductor
- transducerEnergy form converter
thermocouple · piezoelectric · pressure · proximity · capacitive · humidity · ultrasonic · infrared
Reduced to tiny size
- nanoscaleBillionth-meter dimension
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- submillimeterLess than one millimeter
- compactTightly packed together
miniature · tiny · pocket-sized · portable · embedded · wearable
Unspecified small device
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- contraptionImprovised or odd mechanism
- apparatusEquipment for a task
- instrumentDevice for specific tasks
mechanism · accessory · tool · wearable · smartwatch
biocompatible
Accepted by living tissue
- pacemakerDevice regulating heartbeat
- neurostimulatorImplanted nerve-signaling device
- cochlearOf the spiral ear cavity
biochip · stent · defibrillator · intraocular · prosthesis · subcutaneous · implantable · transdermal · mesh · shunt
MEMS
Microscale electromechanical devices
- lithographyGrease-based flat plate printing
- photolithographyLight-transfers patterns onto silicon
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
etching · semiconductor · silicon · cleanroom · wafer · deposition · nanotechnology · transistor · microelectronics · chip
accelerometer
Device measuring motion forces
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- biosensorBiological chemical detection device
- photodiodeLight-to-current semiconductor
transducer · thermocouple · piezoelectric · pressure · proximity · capacitive · humidity · ultrasonic · infrared · LIDAR
miniaturized
Reduced to tiny size
- nanoscaleBillionth-meter dimension
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- submillimeterLess than one millimeter
compact · miniature · tiny · pocket-sized · portable · embedded · wearable
widget
Unspecified small device
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- contraptionImprovised or odd mechanism
- apparatusEquipment for a task
instrument · mechanism · accessory · tool · wearable · smartwatch
microdeviceheavy machinery
Large powered industrial apparatus
mainframe · megastructure · industrial machinery · heavy equipment · industrial equipment