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Engineers Connect Health Wearables and Implants Using the Body as the Network
The system uses micrometer-scale circuits and tissue conduction to extend communication range more than 10 times beyond Bluetooth, researchers said.
Georgia Tech researchers, led by Assistant Professor Alex Abramson, introduced the Smart Wireless Autonomous Networking System on Wednesday, a technology that uses body tissue to enable communication between wearable sensors and implantable therapeutics.
Traditional wireless methods like Bluetooth require bulky antennas and significant power, limiting device size and tissue penetration. SWANS overcomes these constraints by using passive electrical components that consume essentially no power while waiting for activation.
Engineered circuits smaller than 3 millimeters enable syringe delivery, eliminating surgery. These low-power devices extend battery life by more than 15 times compared to radiofrequency methods and transmit signals through 30 centimeters of tissue.
In experiments, sensors detected motion in a rat's front paw and autonomously triggered an implant to stimulate hind-leg muscles. This demonstrated how the system coordinates sensors and actuators across disparate body locations.
Researchers hope to fully automate human health by delivering therapies exactly when and where needed. "Automation improves outcomes and simplifies treatment regimens for patients," said Ramy Ghanim, a Ph.D. student, highlighting the path toward personalized bioelectronic medicine.