We have been working with clients for a number of years helping them innovate considering the new environment driven by the internet of things (IOT). Following the evolution of core technologies that enable the IOT is a key part of our front-end process.
One of the core technologies enabling the IOT is sensors technology, particularly sensors based on MEMS (micro-electronic mechanical systems) devices. MEMS are tiny devices some no thicker than a human hair and are resonators, antennas, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensors and other devices. These devices are becoming ubiquitous. They are in automobiles, iPhones, Nintendo Wii and many other products that touch our lives daily. They all rely on wired power until now.
Now a team of researchers, led by Boston University College of Engineering (ENG) PhD candidate Farrukh Mateen (ENG'18) and Raj Mohanty, a professor of physics at BU's College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) may transform tiny wirelessly low powered MEMS devices that are efficient and generate low-radiation so they can be used inside the body.
This team is developing breakthrough technology to wirelessly power MEMS devices with one nanowatt of power—that's a billionth of a watt—from three feet away. This technology may enable brain implants to treat neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease.
for more information check out the article in PHYS.ORG.http://phys.org/news/2016-09-wireless-micromachine.htmls
Off course the BU team is not the only group working is this space. Do a google search on "wireless implantable medical devices" and you can start surveying what's going on. This graphic from MIT illustrates a range of applications are envisioned. Go to MIT's IMD Shield page for some of the latest developments http://groups.csail.mit.edu/netmit/IMDShield/
For an overview of wireless communications with implanted medical devices go to:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4156009/