Addressable floating light activated micro-electrical stimulators for wireless neurostimulation

Abstract

Abstract-Stimulation of the central nervous system can be useful for treating neurological disorders. Wireless neurostimulating devices have the benefit that they can float in tissue and do not experience the sheering caused by tethering tension that non-wireless stimulators impose on connecting wires. An optically powered, logic controlled, CMOS microdevice that can decode telemetry data from an optical packet is a potential way of implementing wireless, addressable, microstimulators. Through the use of an optical packet, different devices can be addressed for stimulation, allowing spatially selective activation of neural tissue. This work presents the design and simulations of such a neural stimulation device, specifically an optically powered CMOS circuit that decodes telemetry data and determines whether it has been addressed.