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Cited by 112Wireless Body Area NetworksMolecular Communication and NanonetworksWireless Power Transfer Systems

Wireless communication with implanted medical devices using the conductive properties of the body

Open access
Ferguson, John E, Redish, A David·2011·Expert Review of Medical Devices
DOI 10.1586/erd.11.16PMC PMC4156009
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Abstract

Many medical devices that are implanted in the body use wires or wireless radiofrequency telemetry to communicate with circuitry outside the body. However, the wires are a common source of surgical complications, including breakage, infection and electrical noise. In addition, radiofrequency telemetry requires large amounts of power and results in low-efficiency transmission through biological tissue. As an alternative, the conductive properties of the body can be used to enable wireless communication with implanted devices. In this article, several methods of intrabody communication are described and compared. In addition to reducing the complications that occur with current implantable medical devices, intrabody communication can enable novel types of miniature devices for research and clinical applications.

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  • An external "reader coil" generates the electromagnetic field, intercepted by a corresponding coil in the implant; the received signal is demodulated to separate power and data.

    “An external “reader coil” generates the electromagnetic field, intercepted by a corresponding coil in the implant. The received signal is demodulated to separate power and data, effectively fueling and interfacing with the neural implant (Ferguson and Redish, 2011; Pavone et al., 2012).”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Ferguson and Redish, 2011

    The Challenges > Power section (page unavailable) discusses wireless RF power delivery requiring aligned antennas and passive implants responding to an external signal. It does not describe an external reader coil coupling to an implant coil or demodulation that separates power from data. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • One primary constraint in distance between transmitter and receiver in RF charging systems is the inherent limitation on the size of the receiver's antenna and wavelength of the electromagnetic waves used, which influences the effectiveness of energy transfer.

    “One of the primary constraints in distance between the transmitter and receiver in Radio Frequency (RF) charging systems is the inherent limitation on the size of the receiver’s antenna and wavelength of the electromagnetic waves used which influences the effectiveness of energy transfer (Ferguson and Redish, 2011).”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Ferguson and Redish, 2011

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Brain implants require minimization of the system to reduce invasiveness, which might conflict with the ideal antenna size needed for efficient RF energy transfer, leading to a trade-off between the physical size of the implant and the efficiency of power reception.

    “However brain implants require minimization of the system to reduce the invasiveness of the procedure which might conflict with the ideal antenna size needed for efficient RF energy transfer, leading to a trade-off between the physical size of the implant and the efficiency of power reception (Ferguson and Redish, 2011; Di Carlo et al., 2018; Fan et al., 2022).”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Ferguson and Redish, 2011

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References 42 · Cited by 112

Research works printed but not linked: 36

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Authors
Ferguson, J. E., & Redish, A. D.
Affiliations
University of Minnesota (US)
ORCID
Venue
Expert Review of Medical Devices
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2011-07
Volume
8
Issue
4
Pages
427-433
ISSN
  • 1743-4440 (ISSN-L)
  • 1745-2422
DOI
10.1586/erd.11.16
PMC
PMC4156009
OpenAlex
W2111908558
Cited by
112
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
FWCI
0.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Expert Review of Medical Devices (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (T32EB008389)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Wireless Body Area Networks
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Molecular Communication and Nanonetworks
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Wireless Power Transfer Systems
Keywords
intra-body communication, biomedical implants, wireless communication, surgical complications
MeSH terms
Electric Conductivity, Equipment and Supplies, Humans, Surface Properties, Telemetry, Prostheses and Implants, Wireless Technology

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