ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the feasibility of fabricating a self-powered and implantable stimulator . Methods Based on pyroelectric effect and high penetrability of infrared ray , an implantable stimulator was designed and fabricated .The electrical performance of stimulator was measured under infrared ray illumination .We conducted the animal experiments in vitro and in vivo to observe the response of gastrocnemius contraction under stimulation .Results The stimulator could output the electrical signal under the periodical infrared ray illumination .The output voltage and current were proportional to the intensity of infrared ray ,which could reach up to 1 .2 V . A real-time electrical stimulation of frog gastrocnemius was conducted and obvious contraction was observed .The tension values increased with the increase of infrared intensity .We further carried out the in vivo experiment with a frog in order to evaluate the performance of the stimulator after being implanted into the body . The gastrocnemius would also be made to contract even though the infrared intensity decayed when through the skin .Conclusion The proposed pyroelectric stimulator can be self-powered and controlled through near-infrared illumination .This study can provide some guidance for solving the problems of implantable power .