Conformal phased surfaces for wireless powering of bioelectronic microdevices

• Published in: Nature biomedical engineering Vol. 1; no. 3
• Main Authors: Agrawal, Devansh R., Tanabe, Yuji, Weng, Desen, Ma, Andrew, Hsu, Stephanie, Liao, Song-Yan, Zhen, Zhe, Zhu, Zi-Yi, Sun, Chuanbowen, Dong, Zhenya, Yang, Fengyuan, Tse, Hung Fat, Poon, Ada S. Y., Ho, John S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 06.03.2017; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/166/985; 639/166/987; Animal models; Bioelectricity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Heart; Miniaturization; Phase control; Rhythm; Semiconductor devices; Stimulators; Surgical implants
• DOI: 10.1038/s41551-017-0043
• ISSN: 2157-846X

Wireless powering could enable the long-term operation of advanced bioelectronic devices within the human body. Although both enhanced powering depth and device miniaturization can be achieved by shaping the field pattern within the body, existing electromagnetic structures do not provide the spatial phase control required to synthesize such patterns. Here, we describe the design and operation of conformal electromagnetic structures, termed phased surfaces, that interface with non-planar body surfaces and optimally modulate the phase response to enhance the performance of wireless powering. We demonstrate that the phased surfaces can wirelessly transfer energy across anatomically heterogeneous tissues in large animal models, powering miniaturized semiconductor devices (<12 mm 3 ) deep within the body (>4 cm). As an illustration of in vivo operation, we wirelessly regulated cardiac rhythm by powering miniaturized stimulators at multiple endocardial sites in a porcine animal model. A phased electromagnetic surface that conforms to the body surface can regulate cardiac rhythm in a porcine model through the wireless transmission of power to miniaturized semiconductor devices implanted at depths of over 4 cm.