An ultrasonically-driven piezoelectric neural stimulator

A peripheral nerve microstimulator is under development. It incorporates miniature piezoelectric elements to generate current when excited mechanically by externally applied ultrasound. The ultimate goal is to deliver currents locally to peripheral nerve structures deep within the body for the purpose of neural stimulation. The focus of the present study is a quantitative evaluation of the stimulatory ability of these small current generating, piezoelectric chips implanted near sciatic trunks of large American Bullfrogs.