The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense is developing tiny implants to monitor and quickly heal the body from within.

The implant is known as Electrical Prescriptions or ElectRx. It will use electrical signals to monitor several body organs. When the implant sees a specific organ isn't doing so well, it will take steps to address the issue and heal it.

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DARPA sees these implants as a way to avoid an increase in the dependence on pharmaceutical drugs, while offering a new way to treat illnesses.

Doug Weber, program manager for DARPA's biological technologies office, sees the ElectRx as a "tiny, intelligent pacemaker."

Once implanted, the implant will continually monitor and assess a person's condition. It can then also provide necessary electrical stimulation to several nerves that keep organ functions at healthy levels.

They say the technology was inspired by the concept of neuromodulation. This concept is a biological process where the peripheral nervous systems -- nerves connecting parts of the body to the spine -- monitor the status of internal organs.

They also regulate the body's responses to infection and disease.

When the body is sick, the process can be skewed, however. Neuromodulation can sometimes make a condition worse by causing pain, inflammation and by weakening a person's immune system.

Thus, electrical signals from ElectRx are used to keep neuromodulation in check. The pulses can stimulate the nerve patterns that then allow the body to heal itself.

The device will be so small it can be injected on the ends of any nerves on any part of the body. Normal implants are as big as a deck of cards.

If the ElectRx is successful, DARPA looks forward to building implants that will help address mental health problems such as epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

TagsDARPA, Electrical Prescriptions, ElectRx