The injectable neurostimulator: an emerging therapeutic device.
Injectable neurostimulators are currently applied in clinical trials to minimize the side effects such as discomfort, risk of infection, and post-surgery trauma, which can be pronounced with conventional, bulky implantable neurostimulators. Owing to its smaller size, wireless-updatable software, and wireless power supply, the injectable neurostimulator is presumably less invasive, 'smarter', and has a longer lifetime. We discuss the concept and development of the injectable neurostimulator, persistent implementation challenges, and obstacles to be overcome in its evolution. We survey the use of new materials, technologies, and design methods for injectable electrodes, batteries, antennas, and packaging to enhance reliability and other features. These advances in the field are accompanied by progress in electrophysiology, neuroscience, neurology, clinical trials, and treatments.
School of Electronics and Information, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China. Electronic address: lixiaolong@just.edu.cn.
Xiaolong
X
Li
Section of Bioelectronics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Wouter A
WA
Serdijn
School of Electronics and Information, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China.
Wei
W
Zheng
School of Electronics and Information, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China.
Yubo
Y
Tian
School of Electronics and Information, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China.
Bing
B
Zhang
D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D058117:Neural Prostheses
biocompatible materials; electrical nerve stimulation; injectable electronic devices; injectable neurostimulator; therapeutic device