Feasibility of neural stimulation with floating-light-activated microelectrical stimulators

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

4-1-2011

Abstract

Neural microstimulation is becoming a powerful tool for the restoration of impaired functions in the central nervous system. Microelectrode arrays with fine wire interconnects have traditionally been used in the development of these neural prosthetic devices. However, these interconnects are usually the most vulnerable part of the neuroprosthetic implant that can eventually cause the device to fail. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of floating-light-activated microelectrical stimulators (FLAMES) for wireless neural stimulation. A computer model was developed to simulate the micro stimulators for typical requirements of neural activation in the human white and gray matters. First, the photon densities due to a circular laser beam were simulated in the neural tissue at near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. Temperature elevation in the tissue was calculated and the laser power was retrospectively adjusted to 325 and 250 mW/cm2 in the gray and white matters, respectively, to limit \Delta {\rm T}to 0.5 \circC. Total device area of the FLAMES increased with all parameters considered but decreased with the output voltage. We conclude that the number of series photodiodes in the device can be used as a free parameter to minimize the device size. The results suggest that floating, optically activated stimulators are feasible at submillimeter sizes for the activation of the brain cortex or the spinal cord. © 2011 IEEE.

Identifier

79955864982 (Scopus)

Publication Title

IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1109/TBCAS.2011.2114882

ISSN

19324545

First Page

179

Last Page

188

Issue

2

Volume

5

Grant

R21 NS050757

Fund Ref

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

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