Qualitative data from design workshops performed with research participants

Qualitative data from design workshops performed with research participant

Highly integrated two-port rectenna system for wirelessly-powering multi-site autonomous vascular implantable networks

This study presents a network of highly-integrated dual-port implantable rectennas for multi-site wireless power transfer(WPT) to miniature implantable vascular devices. The WPT system consists of a flexible transmitter dipole antenna and two-port dual-band implantable antennas that enable simultaneous wireless information and power transfer(SWIPT). The rectenna occupies a compact size of 7.0 × 7.0 × 0.635 mm3 and operates at 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz with over 25 dB isolation between the two ports. A single-inductor-matched voltage doubler is integrated into the ground layer of the implantable antenna without adding volume or degrading performance, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 73.9% at 5 dBm across a 5.89 kΩ load. The rectenna was tested ex vivo at implantation depths varying from 1 cm to 5 cm in a porcine tissue, resulting in 2.24 mW of DC power transferred at a low input power level of 26 dBm, at an implantation depth of 3 cm. Next, a multi-site implantable WPT system with three rectenna channels was demonstrated, achieving output voltages of 1.68 V at an input power of 25 dBm and implantation depth of 4.5 cm. Wireless power transfer experiments using micro-LEDs as visual indicators, and quantitative rectenna measurements demonstrate the ability of the system to support multi-site autonomous vascular implants

A 37-year-old Menkes disease patient—Residual ATP7A activity and early copper administration as key factors in beneficial treatment

Menkes disease (MD) is a lethal disorder characterized by severe neurological symptoms and connective tissue abnormalities; and results from malfunctioning of cuproenzymes, which cannot receive copper due to a defective intracellular copper transporting protein, ATP7A. Early parenteral copper-histidine supplementation may modify disease progression substantially but beneficial effects of long-term treatment have been recorded in only a few patients. Here we report on the eldest surviving MD patient (37 years) receiving early-onset and long-term copper treatment. He has few neurological symptoms without connective tissue disturbances; and a missense ATP7A variant, p.(Pro852Leu), which results in impaired protein trafficking while the copper transport function is spared. These findings suggest that some cuproenzymes maintain their function when sufficient copper is provided to the cells; and underline the importance of early initiated copper treatment, efficiency of which is likely to be dependent on the mutant ATP7A function