Publication date: 28th June 2024
State of the art implantable bioelectronics for health and research applications require
improvement. The major challenges include: 1) tethered connections for animal monitoring are
prone to infection and induce stress; 2) wireless solutions for human use rely on batteries,
occupying up to 90% of the device volume. Wirelessly powered/rechargeable options often rely
on large subcutaneous modules, necessitating complex surgeries for implementation.
Our vision aims to enable wireless and battery-less bioelectronic devices, making them extremely
miniaturizable and long-lasting, paving the way to less invasive injectable bioelectronics,
facilitating the use of soft and deployable devices, surgical micro-robotics, and ultra-miniature
biosensors. To achieve this, we bridge recent advancements in three disciplines: the physics of
wave control in complex media, conformal reconfigurable radiating surfaces, and implantable
electromagnetic structures. Our work investigates the physical mechanisms governing the
radiation efficiency of implantable bioelectronic devices deep within human body tissues. Based
on our findings, we have developed and implemented novel electromagnetic structures. Our
models identify key parameters and their quantitative relationships in various scenarios, enabling
the calculation of specific electromagnetic design rules tailored to each application (e.g.,
electromagnetic source type, operating frequency, dimensions, material properties). Our results
demonstrate that the wireless performance of bioelectronics can be enhanced by a factor of five
to ten in terms of radiation efficiency compared to conventional designs. This breakthrough has
the potential to reshape biomedical research, leading to more effective treatments and providing
valuable tools for researchers