Self-sustainable intermittent deep brain stimulator

Abstract

Brain-implanted stimulators are revolutionizing treatment of many neurological and psychiatric diseases, but still rely on temporary batteries for power, which require periodic replacements. Battery-free, self-sustainable deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices remain an unsolved challenge. Herein, we report a self-sustainable, battery-free, intermittent DBS system. This device is enabled by interfacing a high-performance bio-triboelectric nanogenerator (Bio-TENG) as an energy harvester with bio-supercapacitors as fast-charging energy storage units to intermittently drive a DBS pulse generator. The Bio-TENG acts as a smart breathing sensor and biomechanical energy harvester using the inhalation and exhalation motions of an inflated swine lung to charge bio-supercapacitors, which drive the pulse generator to stimulate neurons in mouse hippocampus tissues ex vivo . An intra-electrode triboelectrification strategy is used to boost the Bio-TENG power output. This sustainable intermittent power approach may provide a strategy for powering brain-machine bioelectronics. • Bio-supercap/Bio-TENG successfully harvests and stores energy from breathing lungs • The harvested energy intermittently stimulates the brain in a self-sustainable system • Intra-electrode triboelectrification is introduced to boost power Elsanadidy et al. report an implantable battery-free deep brain stimulator that relies on energy from breathing to stimulate the brain. This device harvests and stores the mechanical energy from breathing lungs and may be capable of stimulating the brain hippocampus in an intermittent fashion.