Design and fabrication of hermetic microelectronic implants

Micromodular electrical stimulators called BIONs/sup TM/ (BIOnic Neurons) are injected into paralyzed muscles to treat disuse atrophy. The small, narrow shape required novel solutions to address requirements for wireless power and data transmission, electromechanical assembly and biocompatible hermetic packaging. Analysis of these problems provides some insights into the limits of the constituent microtechnologies.