Tattoo Antennas for Implantable Medical Devices

智能价值植入式医疗设备几乎触及人体的每一项主要功能。心脏起搏器和除颤器、神经记录和刺激设备、耳蜗和视网膜植入物等。这些设备的无线遥测对于监测电池电量和设备健康、上传设备功能的重新编程以及下载用于患者监测的数据是必要的。天线必然是遥测通信系统中最大的组件之一，通常安装在植入的电池组上或电池组中，通常安装在体腔中。这种有限的空间极大地限制了可植入天线的性能，并导致人体内的大量功率损失。失去电力意味着失去传输距离和电池寿命。拟议中的研究将从根本上改变可植入天线的设计，方法是在皮肤和身体表面邻近的脂肪层纹身(几乎看不见)导电纳米颗粒，被动耦合到植入物。该天线将能够根据需要使用尽可能多的表面积，并显著减少身体组织中的传输损失。这是植入式医疗设备天线设计的一个根本性、变革性的转变，使人体内的下一代微型无线传感器和设备成为可能。这项工作将评估植入式天线设计中的基本选择和权衡，包括天线的损耗(阻性损耗)、耦合馈电系统(近场物体损耗)和天线辐射体(物体损耗)。香港特别行政区及MedRadio的规例将会一并考虑。更广泛的影响除了改善医疗保健的直接好处外，该项目还包括一个重要的教育外展/传播部分，以留住和招募本科生/K12，并引起公众的普遍关注。除了传统的科学传播外，还将按照国际和平研究所目前使用的方法制作和广泛传播视频教程、实验室参观、与研究小组的访谈等。参与公众宣传将利用这个引人注目的生物主题NSF研究项目(可能会吸引不同的受众)，作为本科课程和高中科学/数学课程的招聘和留住工具，或者只是为了一般人的兴趣。这将帮助学生看到，他们的数学/科学/工程课程可以用于迷人的科学，可以改变世界，并将有助于展示研究和发明的乐趣和兴奋。

Intellectual MeritImplantable medical devices touch virtually every major function in the human body. Cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators, neural recording and stimulation devices, cochlear and retinal implants, etc. Wireless telemetry for these devices is necessary to monitor battery level and device health, upload reprogramming for device function, and download data for patient monitoring. Antennas are inevitably one of the largest if not the largest component of the telemetry communication system and are generally mounted on or in the implanted battery pack, usually in a body cavity. This limited real estate significantly constrains the performance of implantable antennas and results in substantial power loss in the body. Lost power means lost transmit distance and lost battery life.The proposed research will fundamentally change the design of implantable antennas by tattooing (nearly invisible) conductive nanoparticles in the skin and adjacent fat layer at the body surface, coupling passively to the implant. The antenna will be able to use as much surface area as needed, and dramatically reduce the transmission lost in the body tissues. This is a fundamental, transformative shift in antenna design for implantable medical devices, enabling the next generation of tiny wireless sensors and devices in the body. This work will evaluate the fundamental options and tradeoffs in implantable antenna design including losses in the antenna (resistive losses), coupled feed system (near field body losses), and antenna radiator (body losses). Both SAR and MedRadio regulations will be taken into account. Broader ImpactIn addition to the direct benefits to improved medical care, this project includes a substantial educational outreach/dissemination component for undergrad/K12 retention and recruitment and general public interest. In addition to traditional scientific dissemination, video tutorials, lab tours, interviews with the research team, etc. will be produced and disseminated broadly following methods currently in use by the PI. Engaging public outreach will leverage this compelling bio-themed NSF research project (having likely appeal to a diverse audience) for use as a recruitment and retention tool in undergraduate programs and high school science/math programs, or just for general interest. This will help students see that their math/science/engineering programs can be used for fascinating science that can make a difference in the world, and will help show the fun and excitement of research and invention.