Wireless microsystems for biomedical applications

Abstract

This paper presents a review with the state-of-the-art of wireless microsystems for biomedical applications. Aspects including the radio-frequency systems, data acquisition, application specificities (especially those in the context of implantable devices), power consumption and issues associated to their integration are presented. A review of COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) systems and new concepts and technologies are also presented.

Remote Stimulation of Sciatic Nerve Using Cuff Electrodes and Implanted Diodes

“…Penetrating needle electrode arrays such as the Utah array (USEA), flat interface nerve electrodes (FINE), transverse intrafascicular multi-channel electrodes (TIME), and longitudinal intrafascicular electrodes (LIFE) [ 6 , 7 ], are increasingly being used to make this connection but lead wire ribbon cables create differential inertia during sudden movement and the potential for damaging nerves during normal nerve movement with the limb. Wireless systems using RF, optical, heat, magnetic and ultrasound energy are increasingly being considered for neuromodulation [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The present work suggests the potential use of free-floating, stimulating, diode-electrode systems that are wholly implanted within the nerve and the use of strong electric field gradients produced by extraneural electrodes to achieve channel selection.…”