Wireless Power and Control Network for Neural Prosthese

描述（申请人提供）：本研发项目将开发一种新颖的无线产品，用于向植入式神经假体装置提供电力和控制信号。新的无线技术使用人体作为传输媒介，消除了在体内植入电线和电源的许多不良副作用。这项技术的主要优点是它可以为各种无线植入设备的网络供电，并且它可以从一个方便的点传输能量到全身。该无线产品将通过以下方式开发：a)采用一种新的电磁场传输技术，该技术是由国防部之前资助的项目开发的；b)利用众所周知的电兴奋组织的“强度-频率”特性，即神经和肌肉组织的兴奋性在低于1kHz的正弦刺激频率下最高（即阈值最低）。首先，建立各种神经义肢技术的电力需求。基于这些要求，将定义几个用户可接受的能量发射器配置。一项研究将检查几个安全参数，以确保该技术没有不良副作用。最后，将构建一个概念验证无线刺激装置并在实验室模型中进行验证。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This R&D project will develop a novel wireless product for delivering power and control signals to implanted neural prosthetic devices. The new wireless technology uses the human body as a transmission medium, eliminating many of the undesirable side effects of implanting wires and power sources within the body. The major advantages of this technology are that it can power a diverse network of wireless implanted devices, and that it can transmit power from a single, convenient point throughout the body. The wireless product will be developed by a) adapting a novel E-field transmission technology developed on a previous DOD-funded effort, and by b) taking advantage of the well-known 'strength-frequency' properties of electrically excitable tissues - namely, that the excitability of nerve and muscle tissue is highest (i.e. thresholds are lowest) at sinusoidal stimulation frequencies below 1kHz. First, the electrical power requirements of a variety of neural prosthetic technologies will be established. Based on these requirements, several user-acceptable energy transmitter configurations will be defined. A study will examine several safety parameters to ensure that the technology is free of undesirable side effects. Finally, a proof of concept wireless stimulation device will be constructed and verified in a laboratory model.