Lead-free dual-frequency ultrasound implants for wireless, biphasic deep brain stimulation

Nat Commun. 2024 May 13;15(1):4017. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-48250-z.

Abstract

Ultrasound-driven bioelectronics could offer a wireless scheme with sustainable power supply; however, current ultrasound implantable systems present critical challenges in biocompatibility and harvesting performance related to lead/lead-free piezoelectric materials and devices. Here, we report a lead-free dual-frequency ultrasound implants for wireless, biphasic deep brain stimulation, which integrates two developed lead-free sandwich porous 1-3-type piezoelectric composite elements with enhanced harvesting performance in a flexible printed circuit board. The implant is ultrasonically powered through a portable external dual-frequency transducer and generates programmable biphasic stimulus pulses in clinically relevant frequencies. Furthermore, we demonstrate ultrasound-driven implants for long-term biosafety therapy in deep brain stimulation through an epileptic rodent model. With biocompatibility and improved electrical performance, the lead-free materials and devices presented here could provide a promising platform for developing implantable ultrasonic electronics in the future.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Deep Brain Stimulation* / instrumentation
  • Deep Brain Stimulation* / methods
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Epilepsy / therapy
  • Equipment Design
  • Male
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Transducers
  • Ultrasonic Waves
  • Wireless Technology* / instrumentation