Wireless Battery‐Free Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Conch for Remote Muscle Activation

Abstract

Peripheral nerve stimulators have emerged as a crucial instrument in the realm of neurological disease, capable of modulating nerve activity through precisely targeted electrical stimulation to specific sites within the nervous system. Here, a new wireless battery‐free peripheral nerve stimulation device for remote muscle activation is developed. The device with conch‐inspired bionic design can be wirelessly powered and controlled by a mobile phone playing audio via the piezoelectric effect. The device consists of two parts: a conch‐like signal‐intensifying piezoelectric resonator for converting acoustic wave into electrostimulation signal; and a pedestal with stimulation electrodes for transmitting the electrostimulation signal to a peripheral nerve. For remote nerve intervention, a programmed audio tone from one mobile phone can be tele‐transmitted from other phones according to the desired stimulation protocols. In‐vivo experiments in stimulating the sciatic nerve in mice showed that the device can activate muscles (e.g., 1 Hz 920 mV for 26 degree of leg movement), and the neuron‐muscle interaction has been confirmed by electromyogram (EMG). The wireless peripheral nerve stimulation conch achieves feasible remote muscle activation without batteries, and can extend the scope of self‐powered techniques for telemedicine and limb/trunk rehabilitation.