Wireless optoelectronic devices for vagus nerve stimulation in mice

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) shows promise for treating autoimmune diseases and epilepsy.
• Current technologies limit long-term VNS studies in freely moving animals, especially mice.
• Miniaturized, wireless devices are needed for precise peripheral nerve stimulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and benchmark novel, nongenetic, light-based microstimulation devices for vagus nerve stimulation.
• To overcome limitations of existing technologies for long-termin vivostudies in small animals.

Main Methods:

• Designed and tested transcutaneous photovoltaic microstimulation devices.
• Utilized wired multielectrode cuffs to identify optimal stimulation patterns.
• Fabricated and evaluated photocapacitor and photovoltaic flag devices.
• Validated stimulation efficacy via heart rate analysis.

Main Results:

• Explored various stimulation geometries, noting significant performance differences.
• Developed two photovoltaic device types: photocapacitors (compact, lower efficiency) and photovoltaic flags (more complex, high efficiency).
• Both device types enabled wireless vagus nerve actuation using light impulses.

Conclusions:

• Photovoltaic microstimulation devices offer a viable solution for wireless vagus nerve stimulation in small animals.
• These devices facilitate challenging long-termin vivostudies, including functional vagus nerve mapping.
• This research may support clinical translation of VNS for inflammatory and neurologic conditions.