Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin Model

<italic>Objective:</italic> Chronic neural implants require energy and signal supply. The objective of this work was to evaluate a multichannel transcutaneous coupling approach in an <italic>ex vivo</italic> split-concept study, which minimizes the invasiveness of such an imp...

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Main Authors: Patrick Kiele, David Braig, Jakob Weis, Yara Baslan, Cristian Pasluosta, Thomas Stieglitz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2020-01-01
Series:IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9037282/
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author Patrick Kiele
David Braig
Jakob Weis
Yara Baslan
Cristian Pasluosta
Thomas Stieglitz
author_facet Patrick Kiele
David Braig
Jakob Weis
Yara Baslan
Cristian Pasluosta
Thomas Stieglitz
author_sort Patrick Kiele
collection DOAJ
description <italic>Objective:</italic> Chronic neural implants require energy and signal supply. The objective of this work was to evaluate a multichannel transcutaneous coupling approach in an <italic>ex vivo</italic> split-concept study, which minimizes the invasiveness of such an implant by externalizing the processing electronics. <italic>Methods:</italic> Herein, the experimental work focused on the transcutaneous energy and signal transmission. The performance was discussed with widely evaluated concepts of neural interfaces in the literature. <italic>Results:</italic> The performance of the transcutaneous coupling approach increased with higher channel count and higher electrode pitches. Electrical crosstalk among channels was present, but acceptable for the stimulation of peripheral nerves. <italic>Conclusions:</italic> Transcutaneous coupling with extracorporeal transmitting arrays and subcutaneous counterparts provide a promising alternative to the inductive concept particularly when a fully integration of the system in a prosthetic shaft is intended. The relocation of the electronics can potentially prevent pressure sores, improve accessibility for maintenance and increase lifetime of the implant.
format Article
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issn 2644-1276
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publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher IEEE
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series IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology
spelling doaj-art-7ed5dde5b8ec488bbf6b858bb3a297f32025-08-20T02:42:11ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology2644-12762020-01-011919710.1109/OJEMB.2020.29812549037282Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin ModelPatrick Kiele0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0084-6634David Braig1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1267-0840Jakob Weis2Yara Baslan3Cristian Pasluosta4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5335-9840Thomas Stieglitz5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7349-4254Department of Microsystems Engineering&#x2013;IMTEK, Laboratory of Biomedical Microtechnology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyPlastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Division of Hand, University Hospital, LMU Munich, GermanyDepartment of Microsystems Engineering&#x2013;IMTEK, Laboratory of Biomedical Microtechnology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Microsystems Engineering&#x2013;IMTEK, Laboratory of Biomedical Microtechnology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Microsystems Engineering&#x2013;IMTEK, Laboratory of Biomedical Microtechnology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany<italic>Objective:</italic> Chronic neural implants require energy and signal supply. The objective of this work was to evaluate a multichannel transcutaneous coupling approach in an <italic>ex vivo</italic> split-concept study, which minimizes the invasiveness of such an implant by externalizing the processing electronics. <italic>Methods:</italic> Herein, the experimental work focused on the transcutaneous energy and signal transmission. The performance was discussed with widely evaluated concepts of neural interfaces in the literature. <italic>Results:</italic> The performance of the transcutaneous coupling approach increased with higher channel count and higher electrode pitches. Electrical crosstalk among channels was present, but acceptable for the stimulation of peripheral nerves. <italic>Conclusions:</italic> Transcutaneous coupling with extracorporeal transmitting arrays and subcutaneous counterparts provide a promising alternative to the inductive concept particularly when a fully integration of the system in a prosthetic shaft is intended. The relocation of the electronics can potentially prevent pressure sores, improve accessibility for maintenance and increase lifetime of the implant.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9037282/Capacitive couplingelectrodeneural implantskintelemetry
spellingShingle Patrick Kiele
David Braig
Jakob Weis
Yara Baslan
Cristian Pasluosta
Thomas Stieglitz
Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin Model
IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology
Capacitive coupling
electrode
neural implant
skin
telemetry
title Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin Model
title_full Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin Model
title_fullStr Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin Model
title_full_unstemmed Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin Model
title_short Neural Implants Without Electronics: A Proof-of-Concept Study on a Human Skin Model
title_sort neural implants without electronics a proof of concept study on a human skin model
topic Capacitive coupling
electrode
neural implant
skin
telemetry
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9037282/
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AT davidbraig neuralimplantswithoutelectronicsaproofofconceptstudyonahumanskinmodel
AT jakobweis neuralimplantswithoutelectronicsaproofofconceptstudyonahumanskinmodel
AT yarabaslan neuralimplantswithoutelectronicsaproofofconceptstudyonahumanskinmodel
AT cristianpasluosta neuralimplantswithoutelectronicsaproofofconceptstudyonahumanskinmodel
AT thomasstieglitz neuralimplantswithoutelectronicsaproofofconceptstudyonahumanskinmodel