Nature Communications 2023 publication: fully implanted battery-free high-power platform for chronic spinal and muscular functional electrical stimulation.
Implantables
High-Power FES Implant
Nature Communications fully implanted battery-free high-power FES platform with ~20 V compliance, 10 µA–1 mA spinal output, and 1–5 mA muscle output.
Part of Graduate Research Assistant · Gutruf Lab, University of Arizona · Dec 2018 – May 2022
completed2023ImplantablesFESNeurostimulationWireless power
Typepublication-backed research
SkillsFunctional electrical stimulation, High-output electronics, Wireless power, Preclinical validation
Selected facts
Quantitative details and source-backed proof points.
Approximate compliance: 20 V.
Spinal stimulation range: approximately 10 µA to 1 mA.
Muscle stimulation range: approximately 1 mA to 5 mA.
Muscle stimulation frequency range: approximately 4 Hz to 100 Hz.
System used current-controlled, DAC-tuned stimulation output with antenna magnetic-field tuning and wireless power optimization.
Project summary
Why it exists, what I built, and what I learned.
Why I built it
Chronic spinal and muscular functional electrical stimulation needed higher output from a fully implanted battery-free system.
What I built
Wireless power transfer, high-compliance stimulation electronics, current-controlled output, stimulation leads/interfaces, implant packaging, antenna tuning, and chronic validation workflows.
What worked
The system connected high-output stimulation, DAC-tuned current control, antenna magnetic-field tuning, wireless power optimization, and chronic preclinical operation.
What failed
High-power implantable stimulation increased constraints around compliance voltage, output current, heat, packaging, wireless range, and safety.
What I learned
High-output implants need output characterization and wireless-power validation treated as core system design, not late-stage testing.
Stack
Tools, systems, and technical areas involved.
20 V compliance10 µA–1 mA spinal1–5 mA muscle4–100 HzDAC-tuned outputAntenna tuning
Links and direction
Public links and next steps.
Use this page for high-output implantable stimulation and chronic battery-free FES evidence.
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