The concept of bionics was first personified in pop culture via Steve Austin (Lee Majors) in the 70 TV Series "The Six Million Dollar Man."  In this author’s opinion, the greatest medical advances to date in medical bionics are the artificial heart and the penal implant!  Could the breast implant be the next addition to this list of medical marvels?  Since it has no mechanical functionality the breast implant is currently considered a prosthetic device, but that could all change. 

Novalert, a start up medical device company has filed patents for and is currently developing several products to monitor and control breast implants. Novalert’s Breast Implant Monitoring (BIM) system is based on a dime-sized microchip that is attached to an implant before it is inserted into the body. To assess the integrity of the implant shell and determine if there is free silicone within the breast (outside of the implant), Novalert uses a reading device that is placed outside the body, over an implant outfitted with the chip; and in the event of a rupture, the device will indicate so.