Data Communication with Implantable Micro Devices

近年来，出现了一些令人兴奋的新工程发展，如亚微米电子学，纳米技术和微机电（MEM）芯片，这些技术可能对医学产生深远的影响。随着这些发展，微型但高度智能的可植入传感器和设备可以被构建来执行体内诊断和治疗干预。目前，许多技术障碍已被消除，但仍然存在一个重大问题，即尚未开发出允许外部计算机与植入设备之间通过组织层进行数据交换的有效无线数据通信链路。传统的数据通信模式，例如基于无线电和光学机制的数据通信模式，不能很好地穿透组织，并且不支持实质上的小型化。因此，植入式设备获得的有价值的数据不能发送出去，来自计算机的指令/命令不能发送进来，并且下一代植入式设备的开发受到阻碍。我们提出了一个生物医学工程开发项目，重视外部/内部无线数据通信问题。我们将建立一个创新的设备，包括双向无线数据收集单元，既传输硬膜下脑电图信号，刺激皮层，完全由外部计算机控制。我们将把这种装置植入实验室狗的大脑中，并评估其性能。

In recent years several exciting new engineering developments, such as sub-micron electronics, nanotechnology, and microelectromechanical (MEM) chips, have emerged which may have profound impairs on medicine. Following these developments, miniature, but highly intelligent, implantable sensors and devices could be built to perform in vivo diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Currently, many technical barriers have been removed; however, there till exists a significant problem that an effective wireless data communication link which allows data exchange between external computer and implanted device through layers of tissue has not yet been developed. Traditional data communication modalities, such as those based on radio and optical mechanisms, cannot penetrate tissues well and do not support substantial miniaturization. As a result, valuable data obtained by implantable devices cannot be sent out, instructions/commands from computers cannot be sent in, and the development of the next-generation implantable devices has been hampered. We propose a biomedical engineering development project to attach the external/internal wireless data communication problem. We will build an innovative device consisting of two-way wireless data collection unit that both transmits subdural electroencephalographic signals and stimulates the cortex, fully controlled by an external computer. We will implant this device within the brain of laboratory dogs and evaluate its performance.