Powering Electronic Implants by High Frequency Volume Conduction: In Human Validation.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Wireless Technology

Background:

• Traditional wireless power transfer (WPT) for medical implants often requires bulky components, limiting minimally invasive applications.
• Existing WPT methods hinder the development of implantable electronic networks and flexible, threadlike devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a novel WPT approach using high frequency (HF) current bursts transmitted via volume conduction in human tissues.
• To assess the feasibility of powering implanted electrodes using external textile electrodes and HF currents.

Main Methods:

• Human participants were subjected to HF (6.78 MHz) current bursts applied through external textile electrodes.
• Implanted needle electrodes were used to collect power, with measurements taken in arms and lower legs.
• Personalized two-port impedance models derived from medical images were used to characterize system coupling.

Main Results:

• Significant time-averaged electric powers were achieved: 5.9 ± 0.7 mW in arms and 2.4 ± 0.3 mW in lower legs.
• The study demonstrated successful power delivery to implanted electrodes via volume conduction.
• HF current bursts were found to be innocuous and imperceptible to participants.

Conclusions:

• Wireless power transfer based on volume conduction of HF current bursts is viable in humans.
• This method enables the powering of threadlike implants without bulky components, overcoming limitations of current WPT technologies.
• The approach offers a minimally invasive and more usable solution for powering implantable electronic devices.