Tattoo Antennas for Implantable Medical Devices

智能优点植入式医疗设备几乎触及人体的每一个主要功能。心脏起搏器和除颤器、神经记录和刺激装置、耳蜗和视网膜植入物等。这些设备需要无线遥测技术来监测电池电量和设备健康状况、上传设备功能的重新编程以及下载用于患者监测的数据。天线不可避免地是遥测通信系统中最大的组件之一，通常安装在植入电池组上或在植入电池组中，通常在体腔中。这种有限的空间极大地限制了植入式天线的性能，并导致体内大量的功率损失。失去功率意味着失去传输距离和电池寿命。这项提议的研究将从根本上改变植入式天线的设计，通过在皮肤和体表邻近的脂肪层上纹身（几乎看不见）导电纳米粒子，被动地与植入物耦合。这种天线可以根据需要使用尽可能多的表面面积，并大大减少在身体组织中的传输损失。这是植入式医疗设备天线设计的根本性变革，使下一代微型无线传感器和设备能够植入体内。这项工作将评估植入式天线设计的基本选择和权衡，包括天线损耗（电阻损耗）、耦合馈电系统（近场体损耗）和天线散热器（体损耗）。SAR和MedRadio的规定都将被考虑在内。更广泛的影响除了改善医疗保健的直接好处外，该项目还包括为本科生/高中毕业生的保留和招聘以及公众利益提供大量的教育宣传/传播内容。除了传统的科学传播外，还将按照PI目前使用的方法制作和广泛传播视频教程、实验室参观、对研究小组的采访等。参与公众宣传将利用这个引人注目的以生物为主题的国家科学基金会研究项目（可能吸引不同的受众），作为本科课程和高中科学/数学课程的招聘和保留工具，或者只是为了一般的兴趣。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.