A wireless and battery-less implant for multimodal closed-loop neuromodulation in small animals

A tether-less and battery-less implant allows for the recording of electroencephalograms, electromyograms and body temperature in freely moving small animals, and for closed-loop neuromodulation via optogenetics and pharmacology. Fully implantable wireless systems for the recording and modulation of neural circuits that do not require physical tethers or batteries allow for studies that demand the use of unconstrained and freely behaving animals in isolation or in social groups. Moreover, feedback-control algorithms that can be executed within such devices without the need for remote computing eliminate virtual tethers and any associated latencies. Here we report a wireless and battery-less technology of this type, implanted subdermally along the back of freely moving small animals, for the autonomous recording of electroencephalograms, electromyograms and body temperature, and for closed-loop neuromodulation via optogenetics and pharmacology. The device incorporates a system-on-a-chip with Bluetooth Low Energy for data transmission and a compressed deep-learning module for autonomous operation, that offers neurorecording capabilities matching those of gold-standard wired systems. We also show the use of the implant in studies of sleep-wake regulation and for the programmable closed-loop pharmacological suppression of epileptic seizures via feedback from electroencephalography. The technology can support a broader range of applications in neuroscience and in biomedical research with small animals.

Automated summary

This article describes a tether-less and battery-less implant that can record electroencephalograms, electromyograms and body temperature in freely moving small animals, as well as perform closed-loop neuromodulation via optogenetics and pharmacology. The wireless and battery-less technology allows for studies that require the use of unconstrained animals and eliminates the limitations of physical tethers and batteries. The implant has a system-on-a-chip with Bluetooth Low Energy for data transmission and a compressed deep-learning module for autonomous operation.