2009 Research Summary

Ultra-Low-Power Wireless for Biomedical Implants

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Yuhui David Chen and Jan M. Rabaey

Research in recent years has demonstrated the possibility of deploying wireless technology in a number of sensor networks [1]. From the perspective of the communication link, a class of these applications possess extreme asymmetry between receiver and transmitter. While the receiver is allowed to have higher power and larger size, the transmitter (a.k.a. transponder) is typically an integrated part of the sensor node and is subject to stringent power and size constraints. Examples of such applications include automotive and biomedical implants (Figure 1).

This project seeks to explore the design opportunities presented by link asymmetry. Design parameters at both system and circuit levels are under careful study. While the choice of architecture may be scaled for a range of other applications, the primary objective is to develop an ultra low-power wireless transmitter for biomedical implants (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Wireless implants for brain-machine interfaces

Figure 2: Block diagram of the proposed wireless transmitter

[1]

J. Rabaey et al., "PicoRadios for Wireless Sensor Networks: The Next Challenge in Ultra-Low Power Design," ISSCC Digest of Technical Papers, February 2002, pp. 200-201.