Scalable networks of wireless bioelectronics using magnetoelectrics.

Networks of miniature bioelectronic implants would enable precise measurement and manipulation of the complex and distributed physiological systems in the body. For example, sensing and stimulation nodes throughout the heart, brain, or peripheral nervous system would more accurately track and treat disease or support prosthetic technologies with many degrees of freedom. A main challenge to creating this type of in-body bioelectronic network is the fact that wireless power and data transfer are often inefficient when communicating through biological tissues. This challenge is typically compounded as one increases the number of implants within the network. Here, we show that magnetoelectric wireless data and power transfer enable a network of millimeter-sized bioelectronic implants where the power transfer efficiency of the system improves as the number of implanted devices increases. Using this property, we demonstrate networks of wireless battery-free bioelectronics ranging from 1 to 6 implants where the wireless power transfer efficiency for the system increases from 0.2% to 1.3%, with each node in the network receiving 2.2 mW at a distance of 1 cm. We use this system for efficient and robust wireless data and power transfer to demonstrate proof-of-concept networks of miniature spinal cord stimulators and cardiac pacing devices in large animals. The scalability of this network architecture enabled by magnetoelectric wireless power transfer provides a platform for building wireless closed-loop networks of bioelectronic implants for next-generation electronic medicine.
Competing Interests: Competing interests J.T.R., F.A., and J.E.W. receive monetary and/or equity compensation from Motif Neurotech. A.F. is a consultant for Medtronic, Inc. and Abbott, Inc. M.R. receives monetary and/or equity compensation from Maxwell Biomedical, Rhythio, XNHealth, consults for Ziopatch, and is the medical director for IRhythm. The terms of these arrangements have been reviewed and approved by Rice University, the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and The Texas Heart Institute in accordance with their policies on conflict of interest in research. The other authors declare no competing interests.