Ultra-Low-Power ICs – The World of Implantable Devices

Keynote Lecture on Electroceuticals Presented at 2014 VLSI Symposium in Taiwan

Posted on May 7, 2014 by David Prutchi Posted in My Portfolio, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

My daughter Shanni and I just came back from Hsinchu, Taiwan where I was invited to deliver a keynote lecture at the 2014 International Symposium on VLSI Design, Automation and Test.

The lecture was titled “Electroceuticals – Replacing Drugs by Devices Enabled through Advanced VLSI Technologies” Here is the abstract:

Electroceuticals are medical devices that employ electrical currents to affect and modify body functions as an alternative to drug-based interventions.In contrast to pacemakers and other classical excitable-tissue stimulators, modern electroceuticals employ sophisticated control strategies that go beyond simple stimulation-response mechanisms in order to modulate physiological regulation loops. Examples include modulation of cardiac contractility as a therapy for heart failure, modulation of gastric contractility as a therapy for diabetes, and modulation of vagus nerve traffic as a therapy for epilepsy and inflammatory diseases. Electroceutical research is still in its early stages, and thus represents an enormous opportunity for which advanced VLSI technologies can enable the development of novel devices and therapies. Unlike other commercial devices however, developing microsystems for therapeutic applications takes place in a heavily regulated environment which requires decisive proof of the devices’ safety and efficacy. Costs, schedules, and clinical strategies must be planned accordingly to achieve success. This keynote lecture will focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by this exciting new field in healthcare.

It was a great experience, and I hope that it will foment cooperation between the AIMD Industry and chipmakers to develop novel platforms that can be used to develop a new wave of electroceutical devices.

NanoWattICs Establishes Working Relationship with Rosellini Scientific to Develop Suite of Neurostimulation Devices

Posted on November 19, 2013 by David Prutchi Posted in Nanowattics, Neural Stimulation, Nexeon MedSystems, Rosellini Scientific, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

Nanowattics logo custom IC ASIC design for implantable medical devices

ASIC designer NanoWattICs (Uruguay) and Rosellini Scientific (Dallas, TX) have announced they have entered into a collaborative relationship for the development of a suite of neurostimulation devices comprising implantable, wireless and non-invasive technologies. From the press release:

Rosellini Scientific, LLC (“Rosellini Scientific”; Dallas, TX, USA) and NanoWattICs SRL (“NanoWattICs”; Montevideo, UY) are pleased to formally announce their collaborative working relationship. For the past twelve months, NanoWattICs has provided support for the engineering efforts required by portfolio companies belonging to Rosellini Scientific.

Rosellini Scientific and NanoWattICs share common developmental interests and possess complementary strengths and expertise, which has produced a fruitful collaboration to date. The continuation of this long-term alliance will allow NanoWattICs to continue growing its team while participating in the development of innovative medical technologies guided by Rosellini Scientific.

“NanoWattICs are world-class engineers striving to develop the next generation of innovative medical technologies,” said Austin Duke, Director of Emerging Therapies at Rosellini Scientific. “We believe that combining their engineering expertise with the Rosellini Scientific vision will greatly enhance the process of bringing high-quality, life-changing medical technologies to the global market.”

“We are extremely pleased and excited about this collaboration opportunity with Rosellini Scientific. The combined knowledge of the two teams can hardly be matched by other players of our size in the industry,” said Pablo Aguirre, Director and Co-Founder of NanoWattICs. “We look forward to expanding our team and together bringing to market the next generation of medical devices.”

Currently, Rosellini Scientific and NanoWattICs are developing a suite of neurostimulation devices comprising implantable, wireless and non-invasive technologies. This work is being supported in part by a recently awarded grant funded by Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII) in Uruguay. The devices are being developed for a variety of clinical indications, including cardiac arrhythmias, migraines and neuropathic pain.

Previously, NanoWattICs provided engineering support for Rosellini Scientific to assist in the development of a non-invasive medical imaging system (Spectral MD Inc.) and wireless telemetry capabilities for a novel glaucoma implant (collaborative development with ISTAR Medical SA).

UPDATE Jan 19, 2017: Rosellini Scientific merged with Nexeon MedSystems

Interesting Article in Medical Design Briefs: Designing an ASIC Chip to Control an Implantable Glucose Measurement Device

Posted on November 14, 2013 by David Prutchi Posted in Diabetes, Drug Delivery, Senseonics, Sensors, Sensors for Medicine and Science, Telemetry, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

The current issue of Medical Design Briefs carries an interesting article titled “Designing an ASIC Chip to Control an Implantable Glucose Measurement Device” by Uwe Guenther of ZMDI (Dresden, Germany) and Andrew DeHennis of Senseonics (formerly known as “Sensors for Medicine and Science, Inc.” in Germantown, MD).

Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden AG (ZMDI), Dresden, Germany, partnered with Senseonics and developed a new microchip for use in Senseionics’ fluorescence-based implantable glucose sensor. According to the article, “ZMDI’s design specifications for this application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which is implemented as a system- on-a-chip (SoC) for control and analysis had to meet the following main requirements: LED driver, measurement and analysis of reflected light, data pre-processing, memory, wireless interface for data transfer, no battery due to extremely low power and low voltage requirements, medical certification, and special form factor.”

Click here for the online article. Click here for a local pdf printout.

IEEE Summer School on Implantable Devices – Bogotá, Colombia (July 9 – 12, 2013)

Posted on June 15, 2013 by David Prutchi Posted in My Portfolio, Tech Talk, Technologies, Ultra-Low-Power ICs, Wireless Power Transmission

I have been honored with an invitation to present at the Fourth IEEE CASS Summer School on Wearable and Implantable Biomedical Circuits and Systems in Bogotá, Colombia (July 9 – 12, 2013).

I will be giving two 1 hour and 20 minute talks on “A Practical Perspective on Developing Novel Commercial Active Implantable Medical Devices”. Unlike other commercial devices, developing medical implantable devices takes place in a heavily regulated environment which requires decisive proof of the devices’ safety and efficacy. Costs, schedules, and clinical strategies must be planned accordingly to achieve a successful exit. This two-part lecture will focus on the practical technical and business-oriented aspects of planning and executing the development of implantable medical devices intended for a commercial application.

Continue reading→

Cactus Semiconductor Announces CSI021 Programmable Current Sink/Source IC for Implantable Neurostimulators

Posted on March 7, 2013 by David Prutchi Posted in Cactus Semiconductor, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

Cactus Semiconductor just announced a compact, versatile, fully programmable IC designed for medical device manufacturers involved in peripheral nerve stimulation and other implantable pulse generator applications.

According to the press release: “Cactus Semiconductor, Inc. is pleased to announce the introduction of our first ASSP (Application Specific Standard Product); developed for medical device designers and manufacturers to reduce risk and development time for implantable neurostimulation, neuromodulation and other Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) applications. The CSI021 will be most beneficial to medical device manufacturers involved in peripheral nerve stimulation by providing a building block suitable for proof-of-concept, trials and even production; depending on the specific application.

Continue reading→

Monash University in Australia Starts Test of Direct-to-Brain Visual Prosthesis Chips

Posted on April 7, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in Blindness, Brain Stimulation, Electrode Materials, News, Tech Talk, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

Implantable chip for direct-to-brain visual prosthesis developed by Monash University. www.implantable-device.com

Image Credit: Monash Vision Group, Monash University, Australia

Engineers from the Monash Vision Group (MVG) have begun trialling the ASICs for a direct-to-brain visual prosthesis that is expected to enter human clinical trials in 2014.

The prosthesis will consist of a tiny camera mounted into a pair of glasses, which acts as the retina; a pocket processor, which takes the electronic information from the camera and converts it into signals enabling the brain to build up a visual construct; and cortical implants of several tiles which will be the portal for the stimulation of the visual cortex. Continue reading→

Nanowattics: Ultra-Low-Power ASIC Design for Implantable Devices

Posted on January 6, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in Nanowattics, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

Nanowattics logo custom IC ASIC design for implantable medical devices

Nanowattics ASIC for an implantable medical device Nanowattics was founded in 2007 to provide development services of ultra-low-power application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for safety-critical applications.

Nanowattics’ core team is extremelly experienced in the design of ASICs for implantable medical devices. Their designs include the main ASIC for a DDDR pacemaker, a sub-microvolt differential amplifier for electroneurographic signal acquisition, and the chipset for a multi-channel current-mode implantable stimulator.

Besides IC design services, Nanowattics also offers IC development project management through the entire product design cycle, including feasibility studies, translation of requirements, foundry submission, fabrication, packaging, prototype testing, documentation, certifications, and production. Continue reading→

Radiation-Hardened ICs for Implantable Medical Devices

Posted on December 28, 2011 by David Prutchi Posted in Radiation Oncology, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

Radiation hardened integrated circuits for implantable medical devices

Lately I’ve received many inquiries about the paper on radiation-hardness testing of implantable integrated circuits that I published with Dr. Larry Stotts (now Executive VP R&D at Biotronik), and the late Dr. John Prince. This is because the effects of medical diagnostic and therapeutic radiation are becoming an issue of concern to physicians who often encounter the need for radiotherapy in the growing population of patients implanted with pacemakers, defibrillators, neural stimulators, and drug-delivery pumps.

Although the paper reported mainly on the test of floating-gate EEPROMs, the modern interest is on the test methods that we developed to test ICs used in implantable devices for hardness to the type of radiation encountered in the medical field.

Click here for our paper: D. Prutchi, J.L. Prince and L.J. Stotts, “X- and Gamma-Ray Hardness of Floating-Gate EEPROM Technology as Applied to Implantable Medical Devices”, IEEE Transactions on Electronic Components and Packaging Technology, 22(3), 390-398, 1999.

Cactus/Freescale Semiconductor ICs for Implantable Medical Devices

Posted on December 27, 2011 by David Prutchi Posted in Ultra-Low-Power ICs

: Image Credit: Freescale Semiconductor, from “Integrated Circuits for Implantable Medical Devices”

An article by Steve Taranovich in the December 15, 2011 issue of EDN discussed technologies that are expected to be hot in 2012. One of these is the implantable chipset being developed by a collaborative effort between Cactus Semiconductor of Chandler, AZ and semiconductor giant Freescale.

SOCs developed by the alliance are expected to accelerate the development of innovative AIMDs. Continue reading→

EBR System’s Wireless Pacemaker

Posted on December 25, 2011 by David Prutchi Posted in Bradycardia, Cambridge Consultants, Cardiac Pacing, EBR Systems, Heart Failure (CHF), Ultra-Low-Power ICs, Ultrasonic Transducers, Wireless Power Transmission

EBR Systems, Inc., founded in 2003 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, is developing the WiCS® Wireless Cardiac Stimulation technology to eliminate cardiac pacing leads, historically a major source of complications and reliability issues. The startup was spun out of research by founder Debra Echt, a former professor of medicine and a cardiologist at Vanderbilt University. Continue reading→

CCC Medical – Top OEM to AIMD Start-Ups

Posted on December 23, 2011 by David Prutchi Posted in Bradycardia, CCC del Uruguay, CCC Medical, CCC Medical, History, Pain, Ultra-Low-Power ICs, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Wireless Power Transmission

CCC del Uruguay Teros SSI pacemaker model 503

CCC is one of the oldest pacemaker manufacturers in the world. It was founded in 1969 by Dr. Orestes Fiandra, who performed the first succesful, human, long-term pacemaker implant in the world.

This was achieved in Uruguay on February 2, 1960 by Dr. Orestes Fiandra and Dr. Roberto Rubio. The pacemaker was manufactured by Dr. Rune Elmqvist of Elema-Schönander in Sweden, and was implanted in Uruguay in a 34-year-old patient with AV block. This unit worked successfully for nine and a half months, until the patient died of sepsis from an unrelated infection. Continue reading→

ST Microelectronics Developing Implantable SOCs

Posted on December 15, 2011 by David Prutchi Posted in Engineering & OEM Services, Ultra-Low-Power ICs

Medical Product Manufacturing News announced that ST Microelectronics is developing ultra-low-power Systems On Chip (SOCs) suitable for implantable medical devices. ST Microelectronics’ 65nm features a Vt of only 0.6V that can be used very near threshold. The REISC processor consumes barely 10.8pJ/cycle at 0.6V. This type of technology will certainly enable many new implantable devices that must operate at extremely low powers and squeeze every bit of juice out of their batteries or energy-harvesting means. Click here for link to article.

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