Wireless control of implantable microdevices

摘要：非技术：植入式装置在传感器、药物输送和医疗设备方面具有很大的潜力。根据美国国家科学院的数据，仅在美国就有1亿患者可以从植入式组织和系统中受益。然而，目前的植入式技术仍然面临着生物相容性和与外部设备的便捷通信的核心挑战。一种构建先进生物相容性植入式装置的改进方法可以极大地促进植入式传感器、药物输送装置和药物洗脱支架和装置的发展。因此，本提案的研究目标是建立一个全新的植入式设备无线控制平台的关键要素。具体来说，该提案寻求开发一种方法，使用聚焦超声来驱动由生物相容性材料制成的微型设备内的小部件。超声已经广泛用于诊断成像，我们的工作将寻求利用这种成像方式来驱动植入设备。除了研究目标之外，该项目还包含寻求解决社会在教育和多样性方面的其他潜在利益的元素：-本科生：为哥伦比亚大学和乔治梅森大学的本科生提供关于“植入式设备”的新研究机会和实验室模块-高中学生：将植入式设备研究整合到纽约市高中学生的教育模块中-技术转移：技术：就具体的研究目标而言，本提案旨在构建和展示一种新的范例，以有效地控制利用超声波的生物相容性微设备。超声波从根本上来说是有吸引力的，因为它是非侵入性的，可以穿透几毫米甚至几厘米的致密组织，而且使用的硬件可以做得很紧凑。在我们的设计中，超声波可以通过精确聚焦超声波能量或使用选择性响应预先指定的声学参数的试剂来驱动设备中的选择性微部件。重要的是，与大多数印刷电子产品不同，超声波可以将能量传递到植入物中，而植入物本身没有嵌入生物毒性电子设备或电源。尽管有这些吸引人的特性，但据我们所知，超声波以前还没有被用于控制可植入的微型设备，更不用说由避免生物污染的生物相容性材料制成的设备了。本研究计划在许多具体方面具有创新性。-具有超声响应组件的微器件的制造-开发和理解声学参数如何与深层组织中的微器件组件交互-开发一种选择性驱动微器件内部组件的方法

Abstract: Non-Technical:Implantable devices have a large potential for use as sensors, drug delivery, and medical devices. According to the National Academy of Sciences, 100 million patients in the U.S. alone can benefit from implantable tissues and systems. However, current implantable technologies still face central challenges of biocompatibility and facile communication with external devices. An improved method for building advanced biocompatible implantable devices could greatly advance the development of implantable sensors, drug-delivery devices, and drug-eluting stents and devices. Hence, the research objective of this proposal is to establish the key elements of a fundamentally new platform for wireless control of implantable devices. Specifically, the proposal seeks to develop a method for using focused ultrasound to actuate small components inside microdevices made of biocompatible materials. Ultrasound is already widely used for diagnostic imaging, and our work will seek to leverage this imaging modality to actuate implanted devices. In addition to research goals, this project contains elements that seek to address other potential benefits for society in education and diversity:- Undergraduate students: new research opportunities and lab modules on "implantable devices" for undergraduate students at both Columbia University and George Mason- High-school students: integration of implantable device research into educational modules for New York City high-school students- Technology transfer: nurturing of undergraduate students interested in commercializing state-of-the-art microdevice research into real- world devices for societyTechnical:In terms of specific research goals, this proposal aims to construct and demonstrate a new paradigm to efficiency control biocompatible microdevices using ultrasound. Ultrasound is fundamentally attractive because it is non-invasive, can penetrate through millimeters or even centimeters of dense tissue, and uses hardware which can be made compact. In our design, ultrasound can actuate selective microcomponents in the devices by precise focusing of ultrasonic energy or by employing agents that selectively respond to pre-specified acoustic parameters. Importantly, ultrasound can impart energy into implants which themselves contain no embedded biotoxic electronics or power supply, unlike most printed electronics. Despite these attractive qualities, to our knowledge, ultrasound has not been previously used to control implantable microdevices, let alone ones made from biocompatible materials that avoid biofouling. This research proposal is innovative in a number of specific aspects.- Fabrication of microdevices with components responsive to ultrasound- Developing and understanding how acoustic parameters interface with microdevice components in deep tissue- Developing a method to selectively actuate components inside a microdevice