Implantable sensor systems offer great potential for enhanced medical care and improved quality of life, consequently leading to major investment in this exciting field. Implantable sensor systems for medical applications provides a wide-ranging overview of the core technologies, key challenges and main issues related to the development and use of these devices in a diverse range of medical applications.Part one reviews the fundamentals of implantable systems, including materials and material-tissue interfaces, packaging and coatings, microassembly, electrode array design and fabrication, and the use of biofuel cells as sustainable power sources. Part two goes on to consider the challenges associated with implantable systems. Biocompatibility, sterilization considerations and the development of active implantable medical devices in a regulated environment are discussed, along with issues regarding data protection and patient privacy in medical sensor networks. Applications of implantable systems are then discussed in part three, beginning with Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for in-vivo applications before further exploration of tripolar interfaces for neural recording, sensors for motor neuroprostheses, implantable wireless body area networks and retina implants.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Implantable sensor systems for medical applications is a comprehensive guide for all those involved in the design, development and application of these life-changing technologies.

Table of Contents:
Contributor contact details Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomaterials Foreword Introduction Part I: Fundamentals of implantable systems Chapter 1: Materials for implantable systems Abstract: 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Interactions between materials and the biological medium 1.3 Electrodes 1.4 Preferred electrode metals, compounds and polymers 1.5 Leads and interconnects 1.6 Packaging 1.7 Surface preparation 1.8 Conclusions 1.9 Future trends 1.10 Sources of further information 1.11 Acknowledgements Chapter 2: Material–tissue interfaces in implantable systems Abstract: 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Fundamental requirements of material–tissue interfaces 2.3 Material selection for implantable systems 2.4 Design considerations and packaging concepts 2.5 Approaches to reduce reactions at the material–tissue interface 2.6 Conclusions 2.7 Future trends 2.8 Sources of further information Chapter 3: Packaging and coating materials for implantable devices Abstract: 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 Background 76 Implantable sensor systems for medical applications 3.1.3 Current packaging and coating strategies 3.2 Packaging of the passive device surface 80 Implantable sensor systems for medical applications 3.2.2 Silicone 3.3 Coating of active device surfaces 3.4 Coatings and barriers for drug release 3.5 Enhancement of surface biocompatibility 3.6 Conclusions 3.7 Future trends Chapter 4: Microassembly and micropackaging of implantable systems Abstract: 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Components of an implanted sensor system 4.3 Microassembly 4.4 Micropackaging 4.5 Conclusions 4.6 Future trends 4.7 Sources of further information Chapter 5: Electrode array design and fabrication for implantable systems Abstract: 5.1 Introduction 5.2 General requirements for implantable electrode arrays 5.3 Materials for implantable electrodes 5.4 The processing of silicone as a substrate material 5.5 Coating layers for microelectrodes 5.6 Fabrication of electrodes using platinum 5.7 Microelectrode arrays – design and fabrication 5.8 Advantages and disadvantages of existing fabrication processes 5.9 Risks 5.10 Conclusions 5.11 Future trends 5.12 Sources of further information Chapter 6: Biofuel cells as sustainable power sources for implantable systems Abstract: 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Implantable biofuel cells 6.3 Design considerations 6.4 State-of-the-art and practical examples 6.5 Conclusions and future trends 6.6 Sources of further information Part II: Challenges of implantable systems Chapter 7: Biocompatibility of implantable systems Abstract: 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The nature of the biological milieu 7.3 The course of events following insertion of an implantable system 7.4 Interfacial interactions 7.5 Biological and chemical processes which can affect implantable systems 7.6 Modelling protein adsorption 7.7 The immune response 7.8 Hydrodynamic aspects of biocompatibility 7.9 Tribological aspects of biocompatibility 7.10 Corrosion 7.11 Cell–implant interactions 7.12 The metrology and evaluation of biocompatibility 7.13 Conclusions 7.14 Future trends 7.15 Sources of further information Chapter 8: Sterilisation considerations for implantable sensor systems Abstract: 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Global markets and the regulatory context 8.3 Methods for sterilisation of medical devices 8.4 Sterilisation of implantable sensor systems 8.5 Conclusions 8.6 Future trends 8.7 Sources of further information Chapter 9: Protection of data confidentiality and patient privacy in medical sensor networks Abstract: 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Challenges 9.3 Review of existing methods and their limitations 9.4 Secure authentication of medical sensing information 9.5 Performance evaluation of the Securing User Access to Medical Sensing Information (SecMed) method 9.6 Discussion 9.7 Conclusions 9.8 Future trends 9.9 Sources of further information Chapter 10: Developing active implantable medical devices in a regulated environment Abstract: 10.1 Introduction 10.2 The route to market 10.3 The medical device Part III: Applications of implantable systems Chapter 11: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for in vivo applications Abstract: 11.1 Introduction to MEMS 11.2 Requirements for in vivo MEMS 11.3 In vivo physiological MEMS sensors 11.4 In vivo MEMS actuators 11.5 Biocompatibility 11.6 Conclusions 11.7 Future trends 11.8 Sources of further information Chapter 12: Tripolar interfaces for neural recording Abstract: 12.1 Introduction 12.2 The signal 12.3 Noise 12.4 Common-mode interference effects 12.5 Interference by external potential gradients 12.6 Models and illustrations 12.7 Future trends 12.8 Conclusions 12.9 Acknowledgements 12.11 Appendix: list of symbols Chapter 13: Sensors for motor neuroprostheses Abstract: 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Unique requirements of motor neuroprostheses 13.3 Clinical significance of motor neuroprostheses 13.4 Motor neuroprosthesis sensors 13.5 Motor neuroprosthesis control algorithms and sensor signal processing 13.6 Motor neuroprosthesis implantable sensor applications 13.7 Network topology design of sensor systems for use in motor neuroprostheses 13.8 Conclusions 13.9 Future trends 13.10 Sources of further information Chapter 14: Implantable wireless body area networks Abstract: 14.1 Introduction to Implanted Body Area Networks (IBANs) 14.2 Applications of IBANs 14.3 Wireless communication into and out of the body 14.4 Healthy Aims demonstration of IBANs 14.5 Conclusions 14.6 Future trends 14.7 Sources of further information Chapter 15: Retina implants Abstract: 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Background 15.3 The eye and the retina 15.4 Overview and approaches to retina implants 15.5 Technical implementation 15.6 Clinical trials 15.7 Conclusions 15.8 Future trends 15.9 Sources of further information Index