University of California

Iota Biosciences, Inc.

Jose M Carmena

Michel Martin Maharbiz

Carl Lance Boling

Dongjin Seo

Ryan Neely

Joshua Kay

Mekhail Anwar

Burak A Ozilgen

Federica Fava

Jan Rabaey

Elad Alon

Konlin Shen

Chelsea Shields Bahney

Monica Lin

Safa Herfat

Meir Marmor

Kristofer S J Pister

Stefanie V Garcia

Giana Montero Garnier

Method and system embodiments for operating a device implantable in a subject using ultrasonic waves are described. In some embodiments, a method is performed at the implantable device to receive ultrasonic waves including an operating mode command. Then, the implantable device sets an operating mode of the implantable device to one operating mode from a plurality of predetermined operating modes based on the operating mode command.

Ultrasound-based protocol for operating an implantable device

Described herein are methods and devices for monitoring or modulating an immune system in a subject with cancer, and methods and devices for treating a cancer in a subject. The implanted device can electrically stimulate the splenic nerve of the subject, which can modulate the inflammatory system (for example, by increasing or decreasing the blood level of one or more pro-inflammatory cytokines and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines to increase or decrease inflammation in the subject) and/or activate or increase circulation of one or more immune cells (such as natural killer cells and/or cytotoxic T-cells), for the treatment of cancer. The implanted medical device includes two or more electrodes configured to electrically stimulate the splenic nerve, and may further include an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves and convert energy from the ultrasonic waves into an electrical energy that powers the device.

Devices and methods for modulating immune system activity in a cancer patient and treating cancer

Described herein is an implantable device configured to detect impedance characteristic of a tissue. In certain exemplary devices, the implantable device comprises (a) an ultrasonic transducer configured to emit an ultrasonic backscatter encoding information relating to an impedance characteristic of a tissue based on a modulated current flowing through the ultrasonic transducer; (b) an integrated circuit comprising (i) a variable frequency power supply electrically connected to a first electrode and a second electrode; (ii) a signal detector configured to detect an impedance, voltage, or current in a circuit comprising the variable frequency power supply, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the tissue; and (iii) a modulation circuit configured to modulate the current flowing through the ultrasonic transducer based on the detected impedance, voltage, or current; and the first electrode and the second electrode configured to be implanted into the tissue in electrical connection with each other through the tissue. Further described are systems including one or more implantable devices and an interrogator for operating the implantable device, methods of measuring impedance characteristic of a tissue in a subject, and methods of monitoring or characterizing a tissue in a subject.

Implants using ultrasonic backscatter for sensing electrical impedance of tissue

Described herein is an implantable device having a sensor configured to detect an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, strain, or a pressure; and an ultrasonic transducer with a length of about 5 mm or less in the longest dimension, configured to receive current modulated based on the analyte amount, the pH, the temperature, or the pressure detected by the sensor, and emit an ultrasonic backscatter based on the received current. The implantable device can be implanted in a subject, such as an animal or a plant. Also described herein are systems including one or more implantable devices and an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to the one or more implantable devices or receive ultrasonic backscatter from the one or more implantable devices. Also described are methods of detecting an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, a strain, or a pressure.

Implants using ultrasonic backscatter for sensing physiological conditions

Method and system embodiments for controlling power provided to a device implantable in a subject are described. In some embodiments, a method is performed at the implantable device to receive, from an interrogator, powering ultrasonic waves having a wave power. Then, energy from the powering ultrasonic waves is converted into an electrical signal to power the implantable device. Information that indicates whether more power or less power should be transmitted to the implantable device is transmitted to the interrogator.

Power controls for an implantable device powered using ultrasonic waves

Described herein are methods for monitoring or modulating an immune system in a subject; treating, reducing or monitoring inflammation; monitoring blood pressure; treating hypertension; or administering or adjusting a therapy for inflammation or hypertension in a patient by electrically stimulating the splenic nerve or detecting splenic nerve activity using an implanted medical device. Also described herein are implantable medical devices for performing such methods. The implanted medical device includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves and convert energy from the ultrasonic waves into an electrical energy that powers the device, two or more electrodes in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer that are configured to electrically stimulate a splenic nerve or detect a splenic nerve activity, and optionally a splenic nerve attachment member.

Implants using ultrasonic communication for modulating splenic nerve activity

Described herein are implantable devices configured to emit an electrical pulse. An exemplary implantable device includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves that power the implantable device and encode a trigger signal; a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in electrical communication with a tissue and emit an electrical pulse to the tissue in response to the trigger signal; and an integrated circuit comprising an energy storage circuit. Also described are systems that include one or more implantable device and an interrogator configured to operate the one or more implantable devices. Further described is a closed loop system that includes a first device configured to detect a signal, an interrogator configured to emit a trigger signal in response to the detected signal, and an implantable device configured to emit an electrical pulse in response to receiving the trigger signal. Further described are computer systems useful for operating one or more implantable devices, as well as methods of electrically stimulating a tissue.

Implants using ultrasonic waves for stimulating tissue

Described herein are implantable closed-loop neuromodulation devices, systems that includes such devices and an interrogator configured to emit ultrasonic waves that power the device, methods of using such devices and systems, and methods of modulating neural activity. The implantable device can include one or more curved members extending from a body. The curved members are configured to at least partially circumscribe a nerve, and include one or more electrode pads. The body includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves and convert energy from the ultrasonic waves into an electrical energy; and a computational circuit configured to receive a detection signal based on a detected electrophysiological signal, generate a stimulation signal based on the detection signal, and operate the electrode pads of to emit an electrical pulse to the nerve based on the stimulation signal.

Implantable closed-loop neuromodulation device, systems, and methods of use

Described herein is an implantable device comprising a radiation-sensitive element (such as a transistor) configured to modulate a current as a function of radiation exposure to the transistor; and an ultrasonic device comprising an ultrasonic transducer configured to emit an ultrasonic backscatter that encodes the radiation exposure to the transistor. Further described herein is an implantable device comprising a radiation-sensitive element (such as a diode) configured to generate an electrical signal upon encountering radiation; an integrated circuit configured to receive the electrical signal and modulate a current based on the received electrical signal; and an ultrasonic transducer configured to emit an ultrasonic backscatter based on the modulated current encoding information relating to the encountered radiation. Further described are systems including one or more implantable devices and an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to the one or more implantable devices or receive ultrasonic backscatter from the one or more implantable devices. Also describe are computer systems for operating implantable devices, methods of detecting radiation, methods of treating a solid cancer in a subject, and methods of monitoring a subject for recurrence of a solid cancer.

Implants using ultrasonic backscatter for radiation detection and oncology

Described herein is an implantable medical device that includes a body having one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to receive ultrasonic waves and convert energy from the ultrasonic waves into an electrical energy, two or more electrodes in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer, and a clip attached to the body that is configured to at least partially surround a nerve and/or a filamentous tissue and position the two or more electrodes in electrical communication with the nerve. In certain examples, the implantable medical device includes two ultrasonic transducers with orthogonal polarization axes. Also described herein are methods for treating incontinence in a subject by converting energy from ultrasonic waves into an electrical energy that powers a full implanted medical device, and electrically stimulating a tibial nerve, a pudendal nerve, or a sacral nerve, or a branch thereof, using the fully implanted medical device.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Jose M Carmena