PDMS Optical Conduit for Implantable Neural Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microelectrode implants face long-term failures due to tethering forces and mechanical stress at the device-tissue interface, and encapsulation within neural tissue, which limits their chronic implantation effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of biocompatible, PDMS-based optical conduit assemblies that wirelessly transmit optical energy to implantable devices, eliminating the need for electrical wires and allowing for flexible, untethered neural stimulators that can power deep brain or neural prosthetics from an external light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional microelectrode implants with connecting wires are used, then electrical energy can be delivered to neural tissue, but tethering forces and mechanical stress cause long-term device failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the connecting wires from the implantable device, eliminating the tethering forces that cause mechanical stress and device failure. The wireless optical powering system delivers energy without physical tethers, solving the reliability problem caused by wire-related mechanical stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based electrical connection system with an optical wireless energy transmission system. Instead of using electrical wires to deliver both power and signals, the system uses optical conduits to transmit light energy that is converted to electrical energy at the implant site, eliminating mechanical tethering forces.
2Reliability
If rigid microelectrode implants are used, then stable electrical contact is achieved, but mechanical stress at the device-tissue interface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible optical conduits made of biocompatible materials that can conform to soft tissue movements. These flexible conduits eliminate rigid mechanical structures that create stress at the device-tissue interface, while still maintaining stable optical energy transmission to power the implantable device.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional wire-based implants are used, then power can be delivered to the device, but encapsulation within neural tissue occurs leading to device failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the wire-based electrical power delivery system with an optical wireless power transmission system. Optical conduits transmit light energy through biocompatible pathways to an implantable device that converts optical energy to electrical energy, avoiding the encapsulation and failure issues associated with conventional wire implants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses biocompatible composite materials for the optical conduits that are designed to be compatible with neural tissue. These materials minimize encapsulation responses while maintaining optical transmission properties, enabling chronic implantation effectiveness.
4Ease of operation
If optical conduits are used to transmit energy to deep locations, then wireless powering is achieved, but optical energy transmission efficiency must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical conduits as intermediary structures that efficiently transmit optical energy from external light sources to implantable devices at deep locations. These conduits are designed with appropriate optical properties to minimize energy loss while enabling wireless operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides efficient energy transfer to deep locations within the body or brain, reducing mechanical stress and encapsulation issues, thereby enhancing the longevity and functionality of neural prosthetics and enabling chronic implantation.
Implementation Method 1
an optical conduit configured to be positioned in a first desired anatomical location, the optical conduit configured to wirelessly transmit optical energy to an implantable device
Implementation Method 2
optical conduits (or waveguides) are constructs of translucent material that can be designed to collect and transmit light
Implementation Method 3
an optical-to-electrical converter (e.g., a photodiode) attached to the optical conduit
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides advantageous optical conduit assemblies (e.g., biocompatible and implantable optical conduit assemblies), and related methods of use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous optical conduit assemblies (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane (“PDMS”)-based optical conduit assemblies) configured to power implantable devices (e.g., neural micro-stimulators or deep brain stimulators or the like) or to be used in optogenetic stimulation. In general, the exemplary optical conduit assemblies can be used for applications where energy needs to be transmitted to deep locations inside the body or brain without using electrical wires. Therefore, implantable devices that need to be powered (e.g., neural prosthetics) can be powered from an external light source using an optical conduit and an optical-to-electrical converter (e.g., a photodiode) attached to the end of the optical conduit on the inside.