System including optically-powered sensing integrated circuit(s) with optical information transfer
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for performing non-destructive sensing of a cell or tissue, in vivo or in culture, are provided. The disclosed systems and methods include fabricating and powering one or more implantable integrated circuit (IC) chips that include a network of Photovoltaic (PV) cells for energy harvesting from an optical energy source, an optical modulator integrating Quantum Dot capacitors (QD-caps) for optical data transfer using fluorescence modulation, and sensing circuitry. The IC chip disclosed herein can measure a thickness of around 10 μm, allowing injection into small cells and diffusion through tissue, it is powered and imaged under a microscope and communicates using fluorescence modulation imaged under a microscope.
1. A system for performing non-destructive sensing of one or more cells or tissues, the system comprising:
an integrated circuit, comprising:
an energy harvestor configured to collect energy from an optical source;
a sensor, coupled to the energy harvestor to be powered thereby, and configured to measure one or more signals associated with the one or more cells or tissues; and
at least one electro-optical modulator comprising a plurality of fluorescent materials, coupled to the sensor and configured to modulate the one or more signals as one or more optical signals.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more measured signals are electrochemical signals.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy harvestor comprises one or more photovoltaic cells.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more photovoltaic cells are comprised of one or more diodes.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cells or tissues are sensed in vivo.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more measured signals are electrical signals.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit is fabricated to have a thickness of 10 μm.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an imaging sensor configured to detect and display the one or more optical signals.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging sensor is selected from a group consisting of a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, a spectrometer and an image sensor mounted on a microscope.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit is implanted in the one or more cells or tissues by injection.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit is implanted in the one or more cells or tissues by microinjection.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit is introduced in the one or more cells or tissues by use of a micropipette from a dispersion or solution in a compatible solvent such as deionized water.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit is implanted in the one or more cells by endocytosis.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluorescent materials form a capacitor comprising a layer of quantum dots.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a relaxation oscillator coupled to the at least one optical modulator.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cells or tissues are sensed in culture.