Implantable medical devices and the concept of integrating sensors/electronics into the human body have been intriguing curiosities especially in medicine for many decades. Recent developments in microfabrication and materials science finally have enabled development of sub-mm-sized implants for monitoring of critical parameters such as blood pressure for heart arrhythmia, pH for GI tract complications, and neural activity for prosthetic applications. However, such devices have energy related problems so that patients need to go through a risky surgery for battery replacement periodically. This talk will cover potential approaches to eliminate this problem and realize next-generation transient/self-powered implants by utilizing bio-resorbable materials or energy harvesting microsystems. 

In the first part of the seminar, a bio-resorbable fabrication process and a battery-free implant for wireless artery pulse monitoring will be presented. Design and fabrication of the proposed implant will be detailed by emphasizing particular diseases and surgical operations that require short-term vascular monitoring. Then, the focus will be on energy harvesting implants which can generate electrical energy within the human body for long-term implants. Widely used neural and cochlear implants increase the quality of life of patients considerably by giving them the ability to move freely and hear. However, because of their power requirement, neural implant users must undergo surgery every 2-3 years just for battery replacement, and cochlear implant users need to change battery at least twice a day. Implantable micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) energy harvesters can help to reduce or eliminate the battery replacement problem. In the second part of the seminar, various other wearable devices including sweat and contact lens-based sensors for glucose monitoring will be introduced.