Engineering#13 in April 2026 EditionSub-millimeter wireless implantable neural sensors powered by ultrasonic energy harvesting
Alisa Bennett, Kenji Mori, Gregoire Laurent et al.
OPENSTEM EDITORIAL SUMMARY
What the research examines
Biomedical engineers demonstrate 0.8 mm³ wireless implantable neural recording motes powered by external ultrasound beams. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) micro-piezocrystals harvest acoustic power and backscatter recorded neural action potentials.
Why it may matter
Eliminates transcutaneous wires and bulky subcutaneous battery enclosures for minimally invasive brain-computer interfaces.
What to examine carefully
Acoustic misalignment caused by micromotion or tissue swelling dampens harvested electrical power.
Editorial scope: This is a concise, independently written introduction based on the publisher information, not a full systematic review or independent replication. It must not replace reading the original methods, limitations and conclusions.
STUDENT RESEARCH LENS · ORIGINAL OPENSTEM NOTES
Try a small, reproducible follow-up
Calculate ultrasound acoustic attenuation and focal acoustic intensity in brain tissue using the Westervelt non-linear wave equation.
Questions to investigate
- How was brain tissue heating kept below the 1.0 °C FDA threshold during continuous ultrasonic power delivery?
- What signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was recorded for cortical local field potentials in in vivo rodent models?
These are independently proposed educational investigations, not activities that the original research authors claim to have completed.
Publication & researcher information
JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
Published online2026-04-17
Authors (selected)Alisa Bennett, Kenji Mori, Gregoire Laurent et al.
University / laboratoryUniversity of California, Berkeley
CountryUnited States
Multi-author research may involve universities in several countries. Unverified institutions and contact addresses are not inferred from authors' names.