Medical News Observer

• The research introduces an ultrasound-based energy transmission method for powering implantable devices, replacing traditional radio waves.
• The team’s creation, a high-dielectric composite material, achieves efficient power transmission with low output impedance, even through titanium packaging.
• In vivo tests on rats demonstrate the device’s potential in treating various diseases, significantly advancing the field of biomedical implants.

Implantable electronic devices have significantly improved patients’ quality of life, particularly in treating complex conditions like Parkinson’s disease. However, technical challenges limit their widespread use, such as battery life and the need for periodic surgical replacement.

A collaborative research team from POSTECH and other experts from Yonsei University and Sungkyunkwan University have developed electrostatic materials that function effectively with very weak ultrasound, paving the way for permanently implantable electronic devices in biomedicine. This research, published in Advanced Materials, introduces a novel approach using ultrasound instead of radio waves for energy transmission. 

Ultrasound-powered implantable devices

By employing a composite of high-dielectric polymers and ceramic materials, the team developed a material that generates electricity through friction, efficiently transmitting electrical energy. This innovation has led to the creation of an implantable neurological stimulator that operates without batteries and has been successfully tested in animal models, showing potential for treating various long-term conditions without imposing physical or economic burdens on patients.

The core innovation lies in the triboelectric implant’s use of a high dielectric composite material with ultra-low output impedance. This design allows the implant to transmit power efficiently, sufficient to generate stimulation pulses, even with the ultrasound attenuation caused by the titanium packaging. This system demonstrates the highest energy transmission efficiency reported in the field to date. An in vivo study using a rat model confirmed the effectiveness of this device system in alleviating urinary symptoms. 

These breakthroughs mark a significant step forward in the development of permanently implantable devices capable of controlling human organs and treating various diseases.

Reference

Kim, Young-Jun, Jiho Lee, Joon-Ha Hwang, Youngwook Chung, Byung-Joon Park, Junho Kim, So-Hee Kim, et al. n.d. “High-Performing and Capacitive-Matched Triboelectric Implants Driven by Ultrasound.” Advanced Materials n/a (n/a): 2307194. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202307194