EE Seminar: Ultrasonic data transmission through the human skull for implanted devices
Speaker: Shimi Elmalem,
M.Sc. student under the supervision of Dr. Ofer amrani
Wednesday, August 9th, 2017 at 15:00
Room 011, Kitot Bldg., Faculty of Engineering
Ultrasonic data transmission through the human skull for implanted devices
Abstract
The transmission of neural data has gained wide interest in several clinical applications such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), closed loop DBS (CLDBS), epileptic treatments, and human brain machine interface (HBMI).
High data rate, wireless low-power transmission, combined with safety for human use is envisioned as the enablers for effective neural data collection and precise stimulation. Such properties can be employed for improving DBS treatment and may facilitate meaningful breakthrough in the study and\or treatment of CLDBS, HBMI and a diversity of mental disorders.
As an example, high data rates can be exploited for improving the monitoring (time-domain) resolution of existing electrodes whose aim is to monitor random disorder behaviour (in the form of short electrical spikes), or otherwise to increase the number of electrodes so as to allow wider coverage of the brain area and/or improved special resolution.
We propose to use ultrasonic data transmission through a human skull for an implanted device (UDTID). The UDTID will consist of two elements: internal (in-vivo implant) and external. The internal device, referred to as hub, will be a miniature, ultra low-power device that will undertake the following main tasks: high bit-rate ultrasound communications with the external device, control of the implanted electrodes. The external device, which can be battery operated, will be in charge of tasks that compliment those of the implanted device.
