# US 12,004,840 B2 · Implants using ultrasonic waves for stimulating tissue

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- Number: US 12,004,840 B2
- Document ID: US12004840B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/313,865
- Filed: 2017-07-07
- Published: 2019-05-23
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-07
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of California
- Applicants: The Regents of the University of California
- Inventors: Michel M. Maharbiz; Dongjin Seo; Konlin Shen; Jose M. Carmena; Ryan Neely; Elad Alon; Jan Rabaey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004840B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/0031: {Implanted circuitry}
- A61B 5/076: {Permanent implantation}
- A61B 5/279: specially adapted for particular uses
- A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)}
- A61B 6/4258: {for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation (A61B6/037 takes precedence)}
- A61B 8/00: Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B 8/04: Measuring blood pressure
- A61B 8/0808: {for diagnosis of the brain}
- A61B 8/085: {for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules}
- A61B 8/0875: {for diagnosis of bone}
- A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters
- A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer}
- A61B 8/48: {Diagnostic techniques (A61B8/13 takes precedence)}
- A61B 8/56: {Details of data transmission or power supply}
- A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system}
- A61N 1/37205: {Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula}
- A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source}
- B06B 1/06: operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction (piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00)
- G01N 27/327: Biochemical electrodes {, e.g. electrical or mechanical details for in vitro measurements}
- A61B 2505/05: Surgical care
- A61B 2560/0219: of externally powered implanted units
- A61B 2562/028: Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
- A61B 2562/12: Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
- A61M 39/0208: {Subcutaneous access sites (implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276; transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247)}
- A61M 2205/04: implanted
- A61M 2205/825: using mechanical generation of electricity, e.g. hand cranked generators
- A61N 1/0534: {Electrodes for deep brain stimulation}
- A61N 1/372: Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
- A61N 5/1071: {for verifying the dose delivered by the treatment plan}
- A61N 2005/1087: {Ions; Protons}
- A61N 2007/0021: {Neural system treatment}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Described herein are implantable devices configured to emit an electrical pulse. An exemplary implantable device includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves that power the implantable device and encode a trigger signal; a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in electrical communication with a tissue and emit an electrical pulse to the tissue in response to the trigger signal; and an integrated circuit comprising an energy storage circuit. Also described are systems that include one or more implantable device and an interrogator configured to operate the one or more implantable devices. Further described is a closed loop system that includes a first device configured to detect a signal, an interrogator configured to emit a trigger signal in response to the detected signal, and an implantable device configured to emit an electrical pulse in response to receiving the trigger signal. Further described are computer systems useful for operating one or more implantable devices, as well as methods of electrically stimulating a tissue.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An implantable device, comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves, wherein the ultrasonic waves power the implantable device and comprise a trigger signal encoded in the ultrasonic waves, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer is further configured to emit ultrasonic backscatter waves, wherein information associated with the implantable device is encoded in the ultrasonic backscatter waves;
a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in electrical communication with a tissue and emit an electrical pulse to the tissue in response to the trigger signal; and
an integrated circuit comprising an energy storage circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the electrical pulse is a current pulse.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the electrical pulse is a voltage pulse.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are within the tissue or in contact with the tissue.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a digital circuit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a mixed-signal integrated circuit configured to operate the first electrode and the second electrode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a power circuit comprising the energy storage circuit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, comprising a body that comprises the ultrasonic transducer and the integrated circuit, wherein the body is 5 mm or less in length in the longest dimension.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, comprising a non-responsive reflector.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the tissue is muscle tissue, organ, or nervous tissue.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the tissue is part of the peripheral nervous system or the central nervous system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the tissue is a skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, or cardiac muscle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, comprising three or more electrodes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device comprises a modulation circuit configured to modulate a current flowing through the ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The implantable device of claim 15, wherein the modulated current encodes the information.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a signal verifying that an electrical pulse was emitted by the implantable device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The implantable device of claim 15, wherein the implantable device comprises a digital circuit configured to operate the modulation circuit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The implantable device of claim 18, wherein the digital circuit is configured to transmit a digital signal to the modulation circuit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The implantable device of claim 19, wherein the digital signal comprises a unique implantable device identifier.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, comprising a body that comprises the ultrasonic transducer and the integrated circuit, wherein the body has a volume of 5 mm3 or less.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to receive ultrasonic waves from an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is a bulk piezoelectric transducer, a piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT), or a capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT).

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is implanted in a subject.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the subject is a human.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is at least partially encapsulated by a biocompatible material.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The implantable device of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode and the second electrode are not encapsulated by the biocompatible material.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

A system comprising one or more implantable devices according to claim 1 and an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transit ultrasonic waves to the one or more implantable devices, wherein the ultrasonic waves power the one or more implantable devices.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The system of claim 28, wherein the ultrasonic waves encode a trigger signal.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The system of claim 28, wherein the system comprises a plurality of implantable devices.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The system of claim 30, wherein the interrogator is configured to beam steer transmitted ultrasonic waves to alternatively focus the transmitted ultrasonic waves on a first portion of the plurality of implantable devices or focus the transmitted ultrasonic waves on a second portion of the plurality of implantable devices.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The system of claim 30, wherein the interrogator is configured to simultaneously receive ultrasonic backscatter from at least two implantable devices.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The system of claim 30, wherein the interrogator is configured to transit ultrasonic waves to the plurality of implantable devices or receive ultrasonic backscatter from the plurality of implantable devices using time division multiplexing, spatial multiplexing, or frequency multiplexing.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The system according to claim 28, wherein the interrogator is configured to be wearable by a subject.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device comprises a sensor configured to detect a physiological signal, and the information comprises the information related to the physiological signal.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The implantable device of claim 35, wherein the physiological signal comprises an electrophysiological signal, a temperature, an analyte concentration, a pH, a pressure, a strain, or a bioimpedance.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The implantable device of claim 35, wherein the trigger signal is encoded in the ultrasonic waves by an interrogator in response to the physiological signal being received by the interrogator.

### Claim 38 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a signal indicating an amount of energy stored in the energy storage circuit.

### Claim 39 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a signal indicating a voltage in the energy storage circuit.

### Claim 40 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a unique identifier for the implantable device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 1)

The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the electrical pulse is configured to electrically stimulate the tissue.