Cyberprostheses: how to turn medical implants into wireless data generators for Health Care 4.0

The evolution of prosthetics has been significantly shaped by advancements in biomedical engineering and state-of-the-art technologies. A notable breakthrough in this domain is the emergence of wireless implantable devices, representing a transformative shift in implant design and functionality. These prostheses aim to restore lost functionalities and seamlessly integrate with the human body, offering therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities when equipped with embedded sensors. However, wireless prostheses require through-the-body communication links with external readers, achieved through minimal structural alterations to preserve core functionalities and without batteries and complex electronics for biocompatibility and miniaturization. Such challenges can be addressed through two approaches: utilizing the prosthesis structure as a radiating element according to the paradigm of structural antennas and employing passive battery-less communication platforms operating in backscattering. The feasibility of these approaches, focusing on the ultrahighfrequency (UHF) band (860-960 MHz), is demonstrated in this article through theoretical formalization, case studies, and in vitro measurements, with insights into materials and manufacturing processes provided.