Rice University engineers have developed the smallest implantable brain stimulator demonstrated in a human patient.
Apr 15 2024Rice University Thanks to pioneering magnetoelectric power transfer technology, the pea-sized device developed in the Rice lab of Jacob Robinson in collaboration with Motif Neurotech and clinicians Dr. Sameer Sheth and Dr. Sunil Sheth can be powered wirelessly via an external transmitter and used to stimulate the brain through the dura ⎯ the protective membrane attached to the bottom of the skull.
Jacob Robinson, professor of electrical and computer engineering and of bioengineering, Rice University The technology relies on a material that converts magnetic fields into electrical pulses. This conversion process is very efficient at small scales and has good misalignment tolerance, meaning it does not require complex or minute maneuvering to activate and control. The device has a width of 9 millimeters and can deliver 14.5 volts of stimulation.
"Neurostimulation is key to enabling therapies in the mental health space where drug side effects and a lack of efficacy leave many people without adequate treatment options," Robinson said. Robinson envisions the technology being used from the comfort of one's home. A physician would prescribe the treatment and provide guidelines for using the device, but patients would retain complete control over how the treatment is administered.
"When you think about a pacemaker, it's a very routine part of cardiac care," said Sheth, professor and vice-chair of research, McNair Scholar and Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery at the Baylor College of Medicine. "In neurological and psychiatric disorders, the equivalent is deep brain stimulation , which sounds scary and invasive.
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