Multichannel FES system with distributed microstimulators

This work describes a newly developed implantable multichannel stimulation system using distributed stimulation modules, manufactured in the form of small glass capsules with a stimulating electrode on each end The modules, microstimulators, are powered from an external antenna using a 2 MHz amplitude modulated carrier containing stimulation parameters data. Using 36 bit command strings, modules are individually addressed and programmed to deliver a stimulation pulse of a certain amplitude, width, and shape. The repetition rate at which a particular module is addressed represents the stimulation frequency. Up to 256 modules can be addressed and controlled from one external antenna.