Lead-free dual-frequency ultrasound implants for wireless, biphasic deep brain stimulation

Abstract

Ultrasound-driven bioelectronics could offer a wireless scheme with sustainable power supply; however, current ultrasound implantable systems present critical challenges in biocompatibility and harvesting performance related to lead/lead-free piezoelectric materials and devices. Here, we report a lead-free dual-frequency ultrasound implants for wireless, biphasic deep brain stimulation, which integrates two developed lead-free sandwich porous 1-3-type piezoelectric composite elements with enhanced harvesting performance in a flexible printed circuit board. The implant is ultrasonically powered through a portable external dual-frequency transducer and generates programmable biphasic stimulus pulses in clinically relevant frequencies. Furthermore, we demonstrate ultrasound-driven implants for long-term biosafety therapy in deep brain stimulation through an epileptic rodent model. With biocompatibility and improved electrical performance, the lead-free materials and devices presented here could provide a promising platform for developing implantable ultrasonic electronics in the future.