Data Communication with Implantable Micro Devices

近年来，亚微米电子学、纳米技术和微机电（MEM）芯片等令人兴奋的新工程发展已经出现，它们可能对医学产生深远的影响。随着这些发展，微型但高度智能的植入式传感器和设备可以用来进行体内诊断和治疗干预。目前，许多技术障碍已经消除；然而，仍然存在一个重要的问题，即尚未开发出一种有效的无线数据通信链路，使外部计算机与植入设备之间能够通过组织层进行数据交换。传统的数据通信方式，如基于无线电和光学机制的数据通信方式，不能很好地穿透组织，也不支持实质性的小型化。因此，可植入设备获得的有价值的数据无法发送出去，计算机的指令/命令无法发送进来，阻碍了下一代可植入设备的发展。我们提出了一个生物医学工程开发项目，以附加外部/内部无线数据通信问题。我们将构建一个由双向无线数据采集单元组成的创新装置，该装置既能传输硬脑膜下脑电图信号，又能刺激皮层，完全由外部计算机控制。我们将把这个装置植入实验犬的大脑并评估其性能。

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.