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. 2012 Jun 1;8(2):8.
doi: 10.1145/2180878.2180880.

Early History and Challenges of Implantable Electronics

Wen H Ko  1
Affiliations

Early History and Challenges of Implantable Electronics

Wen H Ko. ACM J Emerg Technol Comput Syst. .

Abstract

Implantable systems for biomedical research and clinical care are now a flourishing field of activities in academia as well as industrial institutions. The broad field includes experimental explorations in electronics, mechanical, chemical, and biological components and systems, and the combination of all these. Today virtually all implants involve both electronic circuits and micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS). This article offers a very brief glance back at the early history of implant electronics in the period from the 1950s to the 1970s, by employing selected examples from the author's research. This short review also discusses the challenges of implantable electronics at present, and suggests some potentially important trends in the future research and development of implantable microsystems. It is aimed as an introduction of implantable/attached electronic systems to research engineers that are interested in implantable systems as a section of Biomedical Instrumentations.

Keywords: Algorithms; Design; Implantable electronics; Performance; biomedical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS); implantable microsystems; micropackage; nonhermetic package; radio-frequency (RF) wireless powering.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) The conceptual diagram of an implant system; and (b) the essential blocks of an implantable device. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Two Implantable telemetry circuits of the era of 1960. (a) Mackay–Blocking Oscillator, 1958 [Mackay 1959]; (b) Ko–Tunnel Diode Telemetry Unit, 1961 [Ko and Neuman 1965]. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Three examples of early telemetry transmitters. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A single channel functional electrical stimulation circuit. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Proposed arm aid system of 1960. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Human EMG implant controls dog’s leg motion. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Two tunnel diode subcarrier oscillators share the 1.35V battery with a transistor. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
The single antenna two-frequency RF-communication link circuit. © Wen Ko, 2012.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
The three-dimension RF power receiving coil structure and circuit diagram. © Wen Ko, 2012.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Amlaner CG, MacDonald DM, editors. A Handbook on Biotelemetry and Radio Tracking. Pergamum Press; New York: 1986.
    1. Bu LP, Cong P, Kuo HI, Ye XS, Ko WH. Micro package of short term wireless implantable microfabricated systems. Proceedings of the IEEE EMBC Annual Conference; 2009. pp. 6395–6399. - PubMed
    1. Caceres CA, editor. Bio-medical telemetry. Academic Press; New York: 1965. p. 60.
    1. Gordon TM, Fuller JL. The radio inductograph – a device for recording physiological activity in unrestrained animals. Science. 1948;108:287. - PubMed
    1. Grotz RC, Yon ET, Long C, Ko WH. Intramuscular FM radio transmitter of muscle potential. Proceedings of the Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.1964. - PubMed

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