Electroceuticals - replacing drugs by devices enabled through advanced VLSI technologies

Summary form only given. Electroceuticals are medical devices that employ electrical currents to affect and modify body functions as an alternative to drug-based interventions. In contrast to pacemakers and other classical excitable-tissue stimulators, modern electroceuticals employ sophisticated control strategies that go beyond simple stimulation-response mechanisms in order to modulate physiological regulation loops. Examples include modulation of cardiac contractility as a therapy for heart failure, modulation of gastric contractility as a therapy for diabetes, and modulation of vagus nerve traffic as a therapy for epilepsy and inflammatory diseases. Electroceutical research is still in its early stages, and thus represents an enormous opportunity for which advanced VLSI technologies can enable the development of novel devices and therapies. Unlike other commercial devices however, developing microsystems for therapeutic applications takes place in a heavily regulated environment which requires decisive proof of the devices´ safety and efficacy. Costs, schedules, and clinical strategies must be planned accordingly to achieve success. This keynote lecture will focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by this exciting new field in healthcare.