Systems and methods for wireless communication with implantable devices
Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure include apparatus, systems and methods utilizing a passive, power-efficient backscattering communication system that enables transmitting data wirelessly between implantable magnetoelectric (ME) devices and an external base station. Certain embodiments encode the transmitted data through modulating the resonance frequency of a ME film by digitally tuning its electric loading conditions.
1. A wireless bioelectronic system comprising:
an implantable device comprising an electrical circuit coupled to a magnetoelectric film, wherein the magnetoelectric film is configured to generate a backscattered magnetic field when excited by an external pulse magnetic field;
an external transceiver, wherein:
the external transceiver is configured to transmit the external pulse magnetic field to the implantable device;
the implantable device is configured to transmit a response signal corresponding to the backscattered magnetic field to the external transceiver using one or more modulation techniques;
a magnetic field generator; and
a resonant property modulator, wherein:
the magnetoelectric film has a property, and
the electrical circuit is configured to apply different electric loading conditions that change the property of the magnetoelectric film.
2. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein the property of the magnetoelectric film is an electric, elastic, or magnetic property of the magnetoelectric film.
3. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit is configured to modulate a voltage, resistive load, inductive load or capacitor load applied to the magnetoelectric film.
4. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the magnetoelectric film comprises a piezoelectric layer; and
the magnetoelectric film comprises a magnetostrictive layer coupled to the piezoelectric layer.
5. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the magnetoelectric film comprises a first magnetostrictive layer and a second magnetostrictive layer;
the magnetoelectric film comprises a piezoelectric layer; and
the piezoelectric layer is positioned between the first magnetostrictive layer and the second magnetostrictive layer.
6. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the implantable device is a first implantable device; and
the wireless bioelectronic system comprises a plurality of implantable devices, wherein each implantable device comprises an electrical circuit couple to a magnetoelectric film.
7. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein the implantable device is configured to provide neural stimulation.
8. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein the implantable device is coupled to a pair of electrodes.
9. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein the implantable device is coupled to a plurality of electrodes.
10. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in concentric circles.
11. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 further comprising a set of other implantable devices, wherein the implantable device and the set of other implantable devices are positioned in an array or pattern to generate stimulation patterns.
12. The wireless bioelectronic system of claim 1 wherein the property includes a resonant frequency.
13. A method comprising:
providing a wireless bioelectronic system that includes:
an implantable device comprising an electrical circuit coupled to a magnetoelectric film, wherein the magnetoelectric film is configured to generate a backscattered magnetic field when excited by an external pulse magnetic field;
an external transceiver, wherein:
the external transceiver is configured to simultaneously transmit the external pulse magnetic field to the implantable device;
the implantable device is configured to transmit response to the external transceiver using one or more modulation techniques;
a magnetic field generator; and
a resonant property modulator, wherein:
the magnetoelectric film has a property, and
the electrical circuit is configured to apply different electric loading conditions that change the property of the magnetoelectric film;
generating a magnetic field with the magnetic field generator;
producing an electrical output signal with the magnetoelectric film; and
modifying the property of the magnetoelectric film with the electrical circuit.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the property of magnetoelectric film is an electric, elastic, or magnetic property of the magnetoelectric film.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein modifying the property of the magnetoelectric film includes modulating a voltage, resistive load, inductive load or capacitor load applied to the magnetoelectric film.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the magnetoelectric film comprises a piezoelectric layer; and
the magnetoelectric film comprises a magnetostrictive layer coupled to the piezoelectric layer.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the magnetoelectric film comprises a first magnetostrictive layer and a second magnetostrictive layer;
the magnetoelectric film comprises a piezoelectric layer; and
the piezoelectric layer is positioned between the first magnetostrictive layer and the second magnetostrictive layer.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the implantable device is a first implantable device; and
the wireless bioelectronic system comprises a plurality of implantable devices, wherein each implantable device comprises an electrical circuit couple to a magnetoelectric film.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the implantable device is configured to provide neural stimulation.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the implantable device is coupled to a pair of electrodes.
21. The method of claim 13 wherein the implantable device is coupled to a plurality of electrodes.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in concentric circles.
23. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless bioelectronic system further comprises a set of other implantable devices, and wherein the implantable device and the set of other implantable devices are positioned in an array or pattern to generate stimulation patterns.
24. The method of claim 13 wherein the property includes a resonant frequency.