Rice University Engineers Develop Miniature Brain Stimulator for Human Patients
Rice University engineers have created the smallest brain stimulator that can be implanted. They tested it on a human patient. This device is as small as a pea. It was made with the help of Motif Neurotech and doctors Dr. Sameer Sheth and Dr. Sunil Sheth. The device gets power wirelessly. It uses a new technology called magnetoelectric power transfer.
Digitally programmable Over-brain Therapeutic (DOT)
The Digitally Programmable Over-brain Therapeutic (DOT) could change how we treat drug-resistant depression and other mental or brain disorders. It provides a treatment option that gives patients more control and easier access than existing neurostimulation therapies. At the same time, it is less invasive than other brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
In this paper we show that our device, the size of a pea, can activate the motor cortex, which results in the patient moving their hand, said Professor Jacob Robinson, lead researcher from Rice University.
Converting magnetic fields into electrical pulse
This new technology gets rid of the need for big batteries that power the device. These batteries are usually put under the skin in a different part of the body. They are also connected to the stimulating device with long wires. This change means less surgery is needed. It also lowers the chance of wires breaking or failing. Plus, it means no more surgeries to replace batteries in the future.
The DOT relies on a material that efficiently converts magnetic fields into electrical pulses at small scales with good misalignment tolerance. This means that complex or minute maneuvering is not necessary to activate and control the device. With a width of only 9 millimeters, the DOT can deliver 14.5 volts of stimulation.
Our implant gets all of its energy through this magnetoelectric effect, explained lead author Joshua Woods, an electrical engineering graduate student in the Robinson lab.
Robinson is the founder and CEO of Motif Neurotech. He sees a future where this technology helps people with depression or other disorders. It would improve their executive functioning. This would be done by placing the implant above parts of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex.
This major development introduces new ways to treat brain and mental health disorders. These methods are less invasive and easier to access. There is potential for more progress and uses, marking a big advancement in neuroscience.
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