Low-cost, Implantable Wireless Sensor Platform for Neuromodulation Research

IEEE Biomed Circuits Syst Conf. 2018 Oct:2018:10.1109/BIOCAS.2018.8584729. doi: 10.1109/BIOCAS.2018.8584729. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Abstract

The role of peripheral nerves in regulating major organ function in health and disease is not well understood. Elucidating the relationships between biomarkers and neural activity during conditions free form anesthesia is essential to advancing future investigations of autonomic organ control and improving precision for neuromodulation treatment approaches. Here we present a simple, customizable, off-the-shelf component sensor platform to meet research needs for studying different organs under conscious, free movement. The platform consists of a small, rechargeable coin-cell battery, an energy-harvesting IC, a low-power microcontroller, a low-power pressure transducer, customizable number of electrodes with a common anode, inductive recharge input, and OOK inductive transmission. A case study demonstrating a bladder implant for long-term monitoring is presented, utilizing a novel, non-hermetic encapsulation approach. The customized platform uses two sleep modes to minimize battery loading, exhibiting a maximum time-averaged current draw of 125 micro-amps during sensing and transmission, with a quiescent current draw of 95 nano-amps into the microcontroller.