Electromagnetic Energy and Data Transfer for a Neural Implant

The wireless transfer of energy through living tissues for the purpose of data communications is investigated. After considering the best frequency band for communications in biological tissues, both the uplink and downlink near-field coupled energy transfer options are analyzed. The possibility of wireless powering using the same frequency band is also studied. The nominal power consumption of the implantable baseband communications circuitry was estimated for smaller technology nodes using the Synopsys CAD tools. The effect of using the ultra-low power subthreshold operation in different technology nodes was also analyzed using predictive technology models. By introducing an analysis flow and the corresponding implementation code, we were also able to predict the subthreshold power consumption of the circuitry in different technology nodes and importantly at the gate level.