Low-Power, High Data Rate Transceiver System for Implantable Prostheses

Wireless telemetry is crucial for long-term implantable neural recording systems. RF-encoded neurological signals often require high data-rates to transmit information from multiple electrodes with a sufficient sampling frequency and resolution. In this work, we quantify the effects of interferers and tissue attenuation on a wireless link for optimal design of future systems. The wireless link consists of an external receiver capable of demodulating FSK/OOK transmission at speeds up to 8 Mbps, with <1e-5 bit-error rate (BER) without error correction, and a fully implanted transmitter consuming about 1.05 mW. The external receiver is tested with the transmitter in vivo to show demodulation efficacy of the transcutaneous link at high data-rates. Transmitter/Receiver link BER is quantified in typical and controlled RF environments for ex vivo and in vivo performance.