Wireless, Battery-Free Intraoral Deep Brain Stimulation for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Biomedical Engineering
Jonah Bois
Abstract
This paper presents the design, development, and experimentation of a wireless, battery-free neural stimulation system utilizing an intraoral pathway for power delivery to deep brain targets for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Traditional neuromodulation systems require implantable pulse generators and wired leads. This introduces surgical risks and hardware complications. To address these limitations, a resonant coupling system was developed to transfer radiofrequency (RF) power from a transmit (Tx) coil positioned in the roof of the mouth to an implantable receive (Rx) coil located near the trigeminal ganglion. Two operating frequencies were investigated: a 200 kHz low frequency prototype for baseline coupling validation and a 13.56 MHz prototype for improved efficiency. Multiple Tx coil geometries were fabricated and characterized, including circular and square 5-turn coils (22 AWG) and square 5-turn coil (16 AWG). S11 measurements confirmed resonance near 13.56 MHz with reflection coefficients from -9 dB to -17 dB depending on design. Experimental results demonstrated stable coupling and achievable power transfer distances of 25-38 mm, sufficient to reach desired intraoral anatomical distances. These findings validate the feasibility of efficient wireless power delivery through the oral cavity enabling the future development of compact, battery-free neural stimulators for minimally invasive treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.