Microelectromechanical systems and neurosurgery: a new era in a new millennium.

MICROMACHINES AND MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS (MEMS) are terms that are new to neurosurgeons but certain to become "household terms" in neurosurgery in the near future. These new terms serve as an introduction to a new world of sensors, actuators, and "smart systems" that will change the ways in which neurosurgeons interact with their environment. Through the use of microelectronics and micromachining technologies, MEMS will allow neurosurgeons to perform familiar tasks with greater precision, perform tasks that previously were not done at all, and monitor physiological and biochemical parameters more accurately and with greater safety. This review provides the information necessary to understand the fundamental concepts of MEMS and their application to the neurosurgical arena. It defines the relevant terms and describes the history behind the "micromachine revolution," the capabilities and limitations of MEMS technology, and how this revolution is germane to neurosurgery and to neurosurgeons.