"Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine."

"Electronic devices can now be used to analyse and modulate the electrical activity within the nervous system. This book explores how development of these devices is leading to new diagnostics and treatment options for patients. Topics covered in this essential volume include:- Restoring Movement in Paralyzed Limbs: Future Directions and Challenges- The Use of Bioelectronics in the Gastrointestinal Tract- Harnessing the Cholinergic Inflammatory Reflex with Neurostimulation- The Vagus Nerve as a Sensor-Actuator Network: A Computer Science Perspective- Alternative Methods for Noninvasive Neuromodulation of the Peripheral Nervous System Using Ultrasound- Diabetes Technology: Monitoring, Analytics, and Optimal Control"--Provided by publisher.

Bioelectronics and Medical Devices: From Materials to Devices-Fabrication, Applications and Reliability reviews the latest research on electronic devices used in the healthcare sector, from materials, to applications, including biosensors, rehabilitation devices, drug delivery devices, and devices based on wireless technology. This information is presented from the unique interdisciplinary perspective of the editors and contributors, all with materials science, biomedical engineering, physics, and chemistry backgrounds. Each applicable chapter includes a discussion of these devices, from materials and fabrication, to reliability and technology applications. Case studies, future research directions and recommendations for additional readings are also included. The book addresses hot topics, such as the latest, state-of the-art biosensing devices that have the ability for early detection of life-threatening diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV and cancer. It covers rehabilitation devices and advancements, such as the devices that could be utilized by advanced-stage ALS patients to improve their interactions with the environment. In addition, electronic controlled delivery systems are reviewed, including those that are based on artificial intelligences.

This new volume provides an abundance of information on new biomedical applications being used today. The book covers a wide range of concepts and technologies, discussing such modern technological methods as the Internet of Things, e-pills, biomedical sensors, support vector machines, wireless devices, image and signal processing in e-health, and machine learning. It also includes a discussion on software implementation for the devices used in biomedical applications. The different types of antennas, including antennas using RF energy harvesting for biomedical applications, are covered as well.

Medicine, chemistry, physics and engineering stand poised to benefit within the next few years from the ingenuity of complex biological structures invented and perfected by nature over millions of years. This book provides both researchers and engineers as well as students of all the natural sciences a vivid insight into the world of bioelectronics and nature's own nanotechnological treasure chamber.

The use of electronic devices in medical care is one of the main targets of precision medicine. The field of bioelectronic medicine uses electronic devices to diagnose or treat diseases and disorders in a complementary or alternative way to chemical drugs. It has been more than sixty years since the world’s first implantable battery-driven cardiac pacemaker was implanted here in Sweden. Since then, electronic therapies have been implemented for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, sensory and motor function restoration, and many more. However, electronics can also be used for delivery of conventional drugs in a more controlled, localized, and specific fashion. Therapeutic utility and patient comfort are maximized when the devices are as minimally invasive as possible. The most important milestone in the development of the cardiac stimulator was making it wireless. The early versions of the device required bulky parts to be placed outside of the body with transcutaneous electrical leads to the target site which led to high infection risk and frequent failures. To date, batteries remain the most common way to power implantable electronics. However, their large size and the necessity for replacement surgeries makes the technology relatively invasive. Alternative approaches to wireless power transfer are thus sought after. The most promising technologies are based on electromagnetic, ultrasound, or light-coupling methods. The aim of this thesis is to utilize tissue-penetrating deep red light for powering implantable devices. The overarching concept is an organic photovoltaic based on small molecule donor-acceptor bilayer junctions, which allows for ultrathin, flexible, minimally-invasive devices. Within this thesis, the photovoltaic device was utilized in two ways. Firstly, the photovoltaics are fabricated to act as an integrated driver for other implantable electronic components: 1) an organic electronic ion pump for acetylcholine delivery; 2) a depth-probe microelectrode stimulation device for epilepsy applications. Secondly, an alternative device, the organic electrolytic photocapacitor, is formed by replacing one of the solid electrodes by an electrolytic contact, thus yielding a minimalistic device acting as a direct photoelectrical stimulator. Within the thesis, the photocapacitive stimulation mechanism is validated by studying voltage-gated ion channels in a frog oocyte model. Next, two lithography-based patterning techniques are developed for fabricating these devices with better resolution and on flexible substrates suitable for in vivo operation. Finally, a chronic implant is demonstrated for in vivo sciatic nerve stimulation in rodents. The end result of this thesis is a series of novel device concepts and methods for stimulation of the nervous system using deep red light.