Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: As the global population ages, the demand for implantable medical electronic devices for physiological monitoring and functional support continues to grow. In such systems, wireless data exchange is essential for device control and real-time physiological data acquisition. While coil-based methods are widely used, the method may pose challenges such as electromagnetic interference, or unwanted induced currents in diverse clinical environments. Here, we introduce a soft, flexible optical wireless communication system capable of reliable, real-time data exchange through biological tissues without the need for antenna coils. Microscale light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodetector (PD), microfabricated and integrated into flexible platforms, enable wireless data transmission via light modulation through biological skin, in a relatively small form factor. In vivo experiments validate wireless bi-directional data transfer with integrated physiological sensors, demonstrating on-demand, real-time monitoring of signals such as electrocardiogram and body temperature. This approach offers a promising pathway toward safer, miniaturized wireless implantable electronics.
Source: npj Flexible Electronics
Authors: Changeui Hong, Dongwuk Jung, Taeyeon Lee, Jongho Lee
Institution: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
Language: English
Topic: Wireless Body Area Networks
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,090
Award: G3774123063
OpenAlex ID: W7106573521