Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
A Wireless Millimetric Magnetoelectric Implant for the Endovascular Stimulation of Peripheral Nerves
Publication Date
6-1-2022
Journal
Nature Biomedical Engineering
Abstract
Implantable bioelectronic devices for the simulation of peripheral nerves could be used to treat disorders that are resistant to traditional pharmacological therapies. However, for many nerve targets, this requires invasive surgeries and the implantation of bulky devices (about a few centimetres in at least one dimension). Here we report the design and in vivo proof-of-concept testing of an endovascular wireless and battery-free millimetric implant for the stimulation of specific peripheral nerves that are difficult to reach via traditional surgeries. The device can be delivered through a percutaneous catheter and leverages magnetoelectric materials to receive data and power through tissue via a digitally programmable 1 mm × 0.8 mm system-on-a-chip. Implantation of the device directly on top of the sciatic nerve in rats and near a femoral artery in pigs (with a stimulation lead introduced into a blood vessel through a catheter) allowed for wireless stimulation of the animals' sciatic and femoral nerves. Minimally invasive magnetoelectric implants may allow for the stimulation of nerves without the need for open surgery or the implantation of battery-powered pulse generators.
Keywords
Animals, Electric Power Supplies, Proof of Concept Study, Prostheses and Implants, Rats, Sciatic Nerve, Swine, Wireless Technology
DOI
10.1038/s41551-022-00873-7
PMID
35361934
PMCID
PMC9213237
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
3-31-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes