Low-Power Wireless Data Transfer System for Stimulation in an Intracortical Visual Prosthesis

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurotechnology
• Implantable Devices

Background:

• Improving the quality of life for individuals with visual impairments is a significant goal.
• Intracortical prostheses offer a potential solution for severe vision loss, with wireless communication being crucial for safety and mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a low-power, non-coherent digital demodulator for the downlink communication of an implanted visual prosthesis receiver.
• To enable wireless data transmission to implanted electrodes, reducing infection risk and enhancing patient mobility.

Main Methods:

• Development of a low-power non-coherent digital demodulator for wireless data reception.
• Experimental demonstration of the downlink system using off-the-shelf coils.
• Integrated circuit (IC) simulation to evaluate power consumption and performance at different carrier frequencies.

Main Results:

• A scaled-down system demonstrated a 1 MHz carrier frequency with a 125 kbps data rate.
• Proof of principle achieved with a 12 MHz carrier frequency, reaching 4 Mbps data rate with less than 1 mW power consumption.
• The digital receiver achieved power reduction by skipping clock cycles for redundant bits.

Conclusions:

• The proposed digital demodulator offers a promising pathway towards low-power, wireless-enabled visual prostheses.
• The system's digital architecture allows easy adjustment to ISM frequency bands, with power consumption scaling linearly with carrier frequency.
• The technology supports the development of advanced neuroprosthetics for restoring vision.