Logo DFG
Logo SFB Elaine

Title

ELAINE - ELectrically Active ImplaNts (Collaborative Research Centre 1270)

Subproject

Project B03: Modelling and design of ultra low power implants for closed loop stimulation

Work programme

In this subproject, a modular, fully implantable and highly integrated stimulation system suitable for the representative implant applications studied at the CRC, is to be designed, modeled, methodically studied and prototyped. This is intended to support multimodal energy sources and to work extremely energy-efficiently even in challenging closed loop scenarios. During the first funding period of ELAINE our research led to STELLA, an open source, modular and highly adaptable stimulation platform. The STELLA architecture includes basic sensory readout as well as a bidirectional wireless data communication module. Additionally, we analysed the integration of energy supply with the use of mechanical and thermal energy sources. This included the placement and optimisation of thermoelectric generators. As a result, ultra-long term animal studies were enabled that were previously impossible.
In the second funding period, we plan on extending the STELLA architecture with modules that allow for extensive therapy exploration through sensor information, working towards closed loop stimulation, while remaining fully implantable to enable undisturbed animal studies. Due to stringent constraints resulting from closed loop scenarios, a simultaneous optimisation of energy management and sensor data processing is mandatory. Hence, novel virtual prototyping and model-based design approaches will be investigated for ultra-low power, patient-specific electrostimulating implants. Energy management does not only differ depending on the area of application (brain, cartilage or bone), but it is highly dependent on the energy supply (battery or mechanical energy harvesting) as well as physical (size, weight or mechanical stability) and electrical (voltage, current, power or stimulation pattern) parameters. Data collection and processing on the implant and data transmission between the implant and the outside world for function monitoring and therapy support are also gaining in importance. In particular, this is essential for closed loop approaches where the implant’s stimuli are adapted based on information gathered from sensor data in order to leverage the effectiveness of therapy and reduce adverse effects. Scientific challenges to be addressed are ensuring an autonomous energy supply through lowest energy consumption of reliable and highly miniaturised electronics, miniaturised implant-specific energy harvesting mechanisms, efficient transmission, intermediate storage and management of the electrical energy, as well as ultra low power sensor data aggregation, processing, and communication.

Abstract ELAINE

Project period

01.07.2021 - 30.06.2025

Research grant

This project receives funding from the DFG (SFB 1270). Dirk Timmermann (electronics and stimulation devices) and Christian Haubelt (modelling) co-lead B03.

Project leader

Foto Dirk Timmermann

Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Dirk Timmermann

E-Mail
Tel.: +49 381 498 7250
Raum: 105

Foto Christian Haubelt

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil.
Christian Haubelt

E-Mail
Tel.: +49 381 498 7280
Raum: 101

Staff

Foto Franz Plocksties

M.Sc.
Franz Plocksties
E-Mail
Tel.: +49 381 498 7287
Raum: 106

Foto Karl Blynow

M.Sc.
Karl Peter Blynow
E-Mail
Tel.: +49 381 498 7295
Raum: 203

M.Sc.
Robert Hauser
E-Mail
Tel.: +49 381 498 7294
Raum: 208

Peer reviewed publications

Robert Hauser, Florian Grützmacher, Christian Haubelt.:
Approximative Sensor Data Resynchronization for Wireless Burst Transmission Protocols
In Proceedings of the 20th IEEE Conference on Factory Communication Systems (WFCS24), pp. 1-8, Toulouse, Frankreich, April 2024 (to appear)

Robert Hauser, Lukas Steffen, Florian Grützmacher, Christian Haubelt:
Analyzing Local RISC-V Interrupt Latencies with Virtual Prototyping
In Workshop Methoden und Beschreibungssprachen zur Modellierung und Verifikation von Schaltungen und Systemen (MBMV24), pp. 1-7, Kaiserslautern, Deutschland, Februar 2024 (to appear)

Meike Statz, Frederike Schleuter, Hanna Weber, Maria Kober, Franz Plocksties, Dirk Timmermann, Alexander Storch, Mareike Fauser:
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation does not alter growth factor expression in a rat model of stable dopaminergic deficiency
In Journal Neuroscience Letters, Vol. 814, Artikel-Nr. 137459, pp. 1-7, DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137459, Verlag Elsevier, Berlin, Deutschland, September 2023

Franz Plocksties, Anika Lüttig, Christoph Niemann, Felix Uster, Denise Franz, Maria Kober, Maximilian Koschay, Stefanie Perl, Angelika Richter, Rüdiger Köhling, Alexander Storch, Dirk Timmermann:
Strategies on Deep Brain Stimulation Devices for Effective Behavioral Studies in Rodents
In Proceedings of the IEEE-EMBS Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (IECBES), pp. 376-381, DOI: 10.1109/IECBES54088.2022.10079260, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dezember 2022

Maximilian Koschay, Henryk Richter, Meike Statz, Maria Kober, Jonas Puschmann, Franz Plocksties, Alexander Storch, Volker Kühn, Dirk Timmermann:
Case-Study on Visible Light Communication for Implant Monitoring
In Proceedings of the IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS), pp. 275-279, DOI: 10.1109/BioCAS54905.2022.9948625, Taipeh, Taiwan, Oktober 2022

Pia Wilsdorf, Jakob Heller, Kai Budde, Julius Zimmermann, Tom Warnke, Christian Haubelt, Dirk Timmermann, Ursula Van Rienen, Adelinde M. Uhrmacher:
Model-Driven Approach for Conducting Simulation Experiments
In Journal Applied Sciences 2022, Vol. 12, Nr. 16, Artikel Nr. 7977, pp. 1-24, DOI: 10.3390/app12167977, ISSN: 2076-3417, Verlag  MDPI, August 2022

Franz Plocksties, Obaid Ullah Shah, Felix Uster, Munawar Ali, Maximilian Koschay, Maria Kober, Alexander Storch, Dirk Timmermann:
Energy-efficient modular RF interface for fully implantable electrical devices in small rodents
In Proceedings of the IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS), pp. 1-6, DOI:10.1109/BioCAS49922.2021.9645022, Berlin, Deutschland, Oktober 2021

Pia Wilsdorf, Jakob Heller, Kai Budde, Julius Zimmermann, Tom Warnke, Christian Haubelt, Dirk Timmermann, Ursula van Rienen, Adelinde M. Uhrmacher:
A Model-Driven Approach for Conducting Simulation Experiments
In TechRxiv Preprint, pp. 1-14, DOI: 10.36227/techrxiv.16836868.v1, Oktober 2021

Franz Plocksties, Maria Kober, Christoph Niemann, Jakob Heller, Mareike Fauser, Martin Nüssel, Felix Uster, Denise Franz, Monique Zwar, Anika Lüttig, Justin Kröger, Jörg Harloff, Axel Schulz, Angelika Richter, Rüdiger Köhling, Dirk Timmermann, Alexander Storch:
The software defined implantable modular platform (STELLA) for preclinical deep brain stimulation research in rodents
In Journal of Neural Engineering, Vol. 18, Iss. 5, ISSN: 1741-2560, pp. 1-20, DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac23e1, September 2021

Marco Heerdegen, Monique Zwar, Denise Franz, Julia Hörnschemeyer, Valentin Neubert, Franz Plocksties, Christoph Niemann, Dirk Timmermann, Christian Bahls, Ursula van Rienen, Maria Paap, Stefanie Perl, Anika Lüttig, Angelika Richter, Rüdiger Köhling:
Mechanisms of pallidal deep brain stimulation: Alteration of cortico-striatal synaptic communication in a dystonia animal model
In Journal Neurobiology of Disease, Vol. 154, pp. 1-12, ISSN: 0969-9961, DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105341, Verlag Elsevier B.V., Juli 2021

Maria Paap, Stefanie Perl, Anika Lüttig, Franz Plocksties, Christoph Niemann, Dirk Timmermann, Christian Bahls, Ursula van Rienen, Denise Franz, Monique Zwar, Marco Rohde, Rüdiger Köhling, Angelika Richter:
Deep brain stimulation by optimized stimulators in a phenotypic model of dystonia: Effects of different frequencies
In Journal Neurobiology of Disease, Vol. 147, pp. 1-7, ISSN: 0969-9961, DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105163, Verlag Elsevier B.V., Januar 2021

Peer Kämmerer, Vivien Engel, Franz Plocksties, Anika Jonitz-Heincke, Dirk Timmermann, Nadja Engel, Bernhard Frerich, Rainer Bader, Daniel Thiem, Anna Skorska, Robert David, Bilal al-Nawas, Michael Dau:
Continuous electrical stimulation affects initial growth and proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells
In Journal Biomedicines, ISSN: 2227-9059, DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8110482, Vol. 8, Nr. 11, pp. 1-14, Verlag MDPI, Basel, Schweiz, November 2020

Christoph Niemann, Michael Rethfeldt, Dirk Timmermann:
Approximate Multipliers for Optimal Utilization of FPGA Resources
In Proceedings of the 24th IEEE International Symposium on Design and Diagnostics of Electronic Circuits and Systems (DDECS), DOI: 10.1109/DDECS52668.2021.9417027, pp. 1-6, Wien, Österreich, April 2021

Christoph Niemann, Munawar Ali, Obaid Ullah Shah, Jakob Heller, Dirk Timmermann:
Sensor Based Adaptive Voltage Scaling on FPGAs: Calibration and parametrization
In Journal Integration – the VLSI journal 2020, Vol. 39, pp. 30-39, ISSN: 0167-9260, DOI: 10.1016/j.vlsi.2020.05.006, Elsevier B. V., November 2020

Jakob Heller, Christoph Niemann, Franz Plocksties, Christian Haubelt, Dirk Timmermann:
Towards Virtual Prototyping of Electrically Active Implants Using SystemC-AMS
Workshop Methods and Description Languages for Modelling and Verification of Circuits and Systems (MBMV), pp. 29-36, ISBN: 978-3-8007-5221-8, ISSN: 1432-3419, Stuttgart, Deutschland, März 2020

Franz Plocksties, Christoph Niemann, Rainer Bader, Fabian Möws, Hermann Seitz, Peer W. Kämmerer, Michael Dau, Volker Kamp, Jakob Heller, Dirk Timmermann:
Requirements and Design of an Implant for Electrical Stimulation for Bone Regeneration in Animals
In Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE Conference on Life Sciences and Technologies (LifeTech), DOI: 10.1109/LifeTech48969.2020.1570619159, pp. 157-160, ISBN: 978-1-7281-7063-3, Kyoto, Japan, März 2020

Christoph Niemann, Christian Ewert, Henning Puttnies, Michael Rethfeldt, Dirk Timmermann, Peter Danielis:
Modeling Energy Consumption for Task-Offloading Decisions on Mobile and Embedded Devices
In Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE Global Conference on Life Sciences and Technologies (LifeTech), pp. 400-404, DOI: 10.1109/LifeTech48969.2020.1570618809, ISBN: 978-1-7281-7063-3, Kyoto, Japan, März 2020

Martin Kasparick, Björn Butzin, Frank Golatowski, Jonas Pabst, Hans-Joachim Cappius, Peter Westerhoff, Björn Andersen, Dirk Timmermann:
From IEEE 11073 SDC Device Specializations to Assistive Systems: Rule-based Data Analysis for Minimal Invasive Surgery
In Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Smart Applications, Communications and Networking (SmartNets), pp. 1-7, DOI:10.1109/SmartNets48225.2019.9069774, Scharm asch-Schaich, Ägypten, Dezember 2019

Juliane Neumann, Stefan Franke, Max Rockstroh, Martin Kasparick, Thomas Neumuth:
Extending BPMN 2.0 for intraoperative workflow modeling with IEEE 11073 SDC for description and orchestration of interoperable, networked medical devices
In International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (Int J CARS), Vol. 14, Nr. 8, pp. 1403-1413, DOI: 10.1007/s11548-019-01982-6, ISSN: 1861-6410, Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, Deutschland, August 2019

Christoph Niemann, Munawar Ali, Jakob Heller, Dirk Timmermann:
A Calibration Procedure for Sensor Based Adaptive Voltage Scaling Approaches
In Proceedings of the 29th International Symposium on Power and Timing Modeling, Optimization and Simulation (PATMOS), pp. 81-86, DOI: 10.1109/patmos.2019.8862075, Rhodos, Griechenland, Juli 2019 (Best Paper Award Nominee)

Martin Kasparick, Björn Andersen, Stefan Franke, Max Rockstroh, Frank Golatowski, Dirk Timmermann, Josef Ingenerf, Thomas Neumuth:
Enabling artificial intelligence in high acuity medical environments
In Journal Minimally Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies, pp. 1-7, ISSN: 1364-5706, DOI: 10.1080/13645706.2019.1599957, April 2019

Publications/Talks

Valentin Neubert, Monique Zwar, Denise Franz, Marco Heerdegen, Anika Lüttig, Stefanie Perl, Jakob Heller, Christoph Niemann, Franz Plocksties, Frank Krüger, Sascha Spors, Dirk Timmermann, Angelika Richter, Rüdiger Köhling:
Identification of Biomarkers for Progression and Amelioration of Disease in a Hamster Model of Dystonia
In: Progress in Electrically Active Implants - Tissue and Functional Regeneration
Rostock, Deutschland, September 2020

Monique Zwar, Denise Franz, Marco Rohde, Valentin Neubert, Maria Paap, Stefanie Perl, Christoph Niemann, Franz Plocksties, Dirk Timmermann, Angelika Richter, Rüdiger Köhling:
Modulation of cortico-striatal GABAergic inhibition by short-term deep brain stimulation in a phenotypic animal model of dystonia
98th Meeting of the German Physiological Society, DOI:10.1111/apha.13385, Ulm, Deutschland, September 2019

Maria Paap, Stefanie Perl, Anika Lüttig, Franz Plocksties, Christoph Niemann, Dirk Timmermann, Christian Bahls, Ursula van Rienen, Denise Franz, Monique Zwar, Marco Rhode, Rüdiger Köhling, Angelika Richter:
Deep brain stimulation as a therapeutic option in dystonia: effects of different frequencies in a phenotypic animal model by using an optimized stimulator
In: Progress in Electrically Active Implants - Tissue and Functional Regeneration
Rostock, Deutschland, September 2020

Monique Zwar, Marco Heerdegen, Denise Franz, Valentin Neubert, Franz Plocksties, Christoph Niemann, Dirk Timmermann, Christian Bahls, Ursula van Rienen, Maria Paap, Stefanie Perl, Anika Lüttig, Angelika Richter, Rüdiger Köhling:
Increase of striatal inhibitory tone by pallidal deep brain stimulation in awake dystonic hamsters
In: Progress in Electrically Active Implants - Tissue and Functional Regeneration
Rostock, Deutschland, September 2020

Jakob Heller, Pia Wilsdorf, Christoph Niemann, Franz Plocksties, Adelinde M. Uhrmacher, Christian Haubelt, Dirk Timmermann:
Assisting Early Design Decision For Implantable Neurostimulators Through Virtual Prototyping
In: Progress in Electrically Active Implants - Tissue and Functional Regeneration
Rostock, Deutschland, September 2020

Franz Plocksties, Christoph Niemann, Jakob Heller, Christian Haubelt, Dirk Timmermann:
Towards an Energy Autonomous Implant for Closed-loop Neurostimulation
In: Progress in Electrically Active Implants - Tissue and Functional Regeneration
Rostock, Deutschland, September 2020

Maria Kober, Franz Plocksties, Justin J. Kröger, Martin Nüssel, Mareike Fauser, Jörg Harloff, Dirk Timmermann, Axel Schulz, Alexander Storch:
Development of a fully implantable rodent DBS system for long-term neurostimulation
In: Progress in Electrically Active Implants - Tissue and Functional Regeneration
Rostock, Deutschland, September 2020

Maria Paap, Stefanie Perl, Anika Lüttig, Franz Plocksties, Christoph Niemann, Dirk Timmermann, Christian Bahls, Ursula van Rienen, Denise Franz, Monique Zwar, Marco Rohde, Rüdiger Köhling, Angelika Richter:
Deep brain stimulation as a therapeutic option in dystonia: effects of different frequencies in a phenotypic animal model by using an optimized stimulator
In Journal Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, Abstracts of the 86th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT), Vol. 393, Nr. S1, p. 72, DOI: 10.1007/s00210-020-01828-y, Verlag Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Cham, Schweiz, Februar 2020

Christoph Niemann, Jakob Heller, Franz Plocksties, Enkhtuvshin Janchivnyambuu, Dirk Timmermann:
Reliability Enhancement of Signal Processing Hardware Accelerators for Closed Loop Deep Brain Stimulation
Workshop des Arbeitskreises „Zuverlässigkeit von Implantaten und Biostrukturen“ des Deutschen Verbandes für Materialforschung und -prüfung (DVM), Rostock,  Deutschland, November 2019

Christoph Niemann, Franz Plocksties, Jakob Heller, Dirk Timmermann:
Towards an energy autonomous platform for electrically active implants
Invited Session on 41st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), Berlin, Deutschland, Juli 2019

Elektrisch Aktive Implantate – ELAINE

Der durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft geförderte SFB 1270 ELAINE stellt sich vor.
Ein interdisziplinäres Team forscht für ein besseres Leben im Alter.