Ultrasound powered piezoelectric neurostimulation devices: a commentary

Conventional neurostimulation systems for preclinical research can be bulky and invasive due to the need for batteries or wired interfaces. Emerging as a new neural interface technique, ultrasound-powered piezoelectric neural stimulators work by converting ultrasound energy to electrical charge for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioelectronic medicine 2020-08, Vol.6 (1), p.16-16, Article 16
Main Authors: Sun, Tao, Wright, Jason, Datta-Chaudhuri, Timir
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustics
Batteries
Efficiency
Energy
Epidural
Implantable electronics
Medical equipment
Neuromodulation
Piezoelectric neural stimulator
Spinal cord
Spinal cord injury
Transplants & implants
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasound
Wireless power
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Summary:Conventional neurostimulation systems for preclinical research can be bulky and invasive due to the need for batteries or wired interfaces. Emerging as a new neural interface technique, ultrasound-powered piezoelectric neural stimulators work by converting ultrasound energy to electrical charge for neural stimulation. In addition to the benefits of wireless powering and miniaturization leading to less traumatic surgery, piezoelectric neural stimulators can also exhibit prolonged operational lifetimes for a long-term stable neural interface, and show promise for clinical translation. As one of first steps to demonstrate the value of ultrasound-powered piezoelectric neural interface, Li et al. developed a piezoelectric stimulator to activate spinal cord neural circuits for locomotion restoration in a rat model with spinal cord injury (SCI) and compared its efficacy with conventional electrical stimulation (ES). From the point of view of materials science, neural engineering and microelectronics, we provide our commentary on the article, highlighting its importance and discussing the issues that remain to be addressed in future studies in the emerging field of ultrasound powered piezoelectric neurostimulation devices.
ISSN:2332-8886
2332-8886
DOI:10.1186/s42234-020-00052-6