Scalable networks of wireless bioelectronics using magnetoelectrics

Scalable networks of wireless bioelectronics using magnetoelectrics | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Physical Sciences - Article Scalable networks of wireless bioelectronics using magnetoelectrics Jacob Robinson, Joshua Woods, Fatima Alrashdan, Ellie Chen, Wendy Tan, and 12 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5005441/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Nature Biomedical Engineering → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Networks of miniature bioelectronic implants would enable precise measurement and manipulation of the complex and distributed physiological systems in the body. For example, sensing and stimulation nodes throughout the heart, brain, or peripheral nervous system would more accurately track and treat disease or support prosthetic technologies with many degrees of freedom. A main challenge to creating this type of in-body bioelectronic network is the fact that wireless power and data transfer are often inefficient when communicating through biological tissues. This challenge is typically compounded as one increases the number of implants within the network. Here, we show that magnetoelectric wireless data and power transfer enable a network of millimeter-sized bioelectronic implants where the power transfer efficiency of the system improves as the number of implanted devices increases. Using this property, we demonstrate networks of wireless battery-free bioelectronics ranging from 1 to 6 implants where the wireless power transfer efficiency for the system increases from 0.2% to 1.3%, with each node in the network receiving 2.2 mW at a distance of 1 cm. We use this system for efficient and robust wireless data and power transfer to demonstrate proof-of-concept networks of miniature spinal cord stimulators and cardiac pacing devices in large animals. The scalability of this network architecture enabled by magnetoelectric wireless power transfer provides a platform for building wireless closed-loop networks of bioelectronic implants for next-generation electronic medicine. Physical sciences/Engineering/Biomedical engineering Physical sciences/Engineering/Electrical and electronic engineering Full Text Additional Declarations Yes there is potential Competing Interest. J.T.R., F.A., and J.E.W. receive monetary and/or equity compensation from Motif Neurotech. A.F. is a consultant for Medtronic, Inc. and Abbott, Inc. M.R. receives monetary and/or equity compensation from Maxwell Biomedical, Rhythio, XNHealth, consults for Ziopatch, and is the medical director for IRhythm. The terms of these arrangements have been reviewed and approved by Rice University, the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and The Texas Heart Institute in accordance with their policies on conflict of interest in research. The other authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files SupplementaryMovie1.mp4 Movie 1 | A network of 12 wirelessly powered and programmed ME devices. The video shows a programmed sequence of blinking devices, all simultaneously powered and programmed by a single transmitter. The devices can be moved while still receiving power and data, as shown in the first segment by moving one of the devices. Arbitrary sequences can be programmed rapidly as shown in the second segment. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Nature Biomedical Engineering → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5005441","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Physical Sciences - Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":357158794,"identity":"95886018-8cc9-4eb7-b018-b45936ca7b82","order_by":0,"name":"Jacob 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Using this property, we demonstrate networks of wireless battery-free bioelectronics ranging from 1 to 6 implants where the wireless power transfer efficiency for the system increases from 0.2% to 1.3%, with each node in the network receiving 2.2 mW at a distance of 1 cm. We use this system for efficient and robust wireless data and power transfer to demonstrate proof-of-concept networks of miniature spinal cord stimulators and cardiac pacing devices in large animals. 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