Critical Condition: The Role of Low IQ in Medical Implants (Download)

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The active implantable, subcutaneous medical-device market is growing significantly, mainly attributed to the expanding senior population and subsequent increase in cardiovascular and neurological diseases that plagues this age segment. Low quiescent current (I_Q) is crucial in these implanted devices, so that users will not have to interrupt their lives too often to recharge the device.

Neurostimulators also are used to provide forms of sensory perception. One example is the cochlear implant, where electrical stimulation of auditory neurons, using electrodes implanted in the cochlea, can provide hearing sensations to people with a severe, profound, hearing impairment.

Extending battery life in future devices will require mastery of low I_Q within the design architecture. Let’s look at some methods to design these devices with low I_Q in mind.