ANR “MedWave” Project

Using waves to power, locate and make ingestible medical devices smarter

Ingestible medical devices can observe the body from within while reducing the need for invasive examinations. Their use remains limited, however, by their small batteries, uncertain position and the difficulty of transmitting energy and information through biological tissues. MedWave addressed these challenges by developing new ways to power, locate and communicate with miniature devices inside the body. The project combined wave physics, wireless engineering, sensing, prototype development and preclinical testing, with a particular focus on gastrointestinal diagnosis.

MedWave concept: a swallowed medical device explores the digestive system while a flexible unit worn on the abdomen locates it, transfers energy and receives information wirelessly. The device can also detect internal changes such as gastrointestinal bleeding.

Key achievements

Much more efficient energy delivery

MedWave demonstrated that energy can be focused on a miniature device deep inside the body despite signal losses, movement and differences between patients. Under the conditions studied, the proposed method delivered up to 10,000 times more energy than conventional approaches, far beyond the initial expectations.

A communication component that also acts as a sensor

The project showed that the miniature component normally used for wireless communication can also detect changes in its surroundings. Its electrical response can help identify the device’s location within the digestive system and detect changes associated with gastrointestinal bleeding. Combining communication and sensing reduces the number of components, device size and energy consumption.

Smaller equipment worn outside the body

New flexible structures were developed to direct energy towards a chosen region inside the body. The project established the theory of body-conforming systems and introduced more compact solutions capable of steering energy without requiring a large conventional array.

Validation from laboratory models to living systems

The prototypes were tested in instrumented body models manufactured using three-dimensional printing and materials reproducing the properties of biological tissues. Two studies in porcine models confirmed wireless transmission from the digestive tract and the ability to detect changes in the device’s environment. Complementary wireless-power experiments are being finalised with the Singapore partner.

How we worked

Computer models were first used to understand how energy and information travel through the body. New control methods were then implemented on adaptable electronic hardware. Miniature internal devices and flexible external systems were designed, manufactured and integrated at the laboratory before being evaluated in artificial body models and preclinical studies. This continuous pathway (from fundamental theory to realistic testing) allowed each result to guide the next generation of prototypes.

Scientific and societal impact

  • New fundamental understanding of wireless energy delivery to miniature devices deep inside the body.
  • Simpler and more energy-efficient ingestible sensors for gastrointestinal monitoring.
  • Potential for earlier diagnosis and less invasive, longer-term patient monitoring.
  • Methods applicable beyond the digestive system, including future wireless interfaces with the nervous system.
  • Contribution to the successful BESSEL European Research Council Starting Grant, awarded to extend bio-adaptive wave control to deep-body bioelectronics.
  • Development of a wireless bioelectronics platform for the design and testing of miniature, remotely powered medical devices.
  • Ongoing technology-transfer and company-creation activities aimed at moving selected results towards practical applications.

Project team and collaborations

French scientific lead: Denys Nikolayev, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications of Rennes, French National Centre for Scientific Research and University of Rennes.

Singapore partner: National University of Singapore. The Singapore scientific leadership was initially held by John S. Y. Ho and subsequently transferred to Yuxin Liu.

Core contributors: Icaro V. Soares, Erdem Cil, Patrick Vadher, Lorette Quéguiner, Mingxiang Gao, Ronan Sauleau, Giulia Sacco, Anja K. Skrivervik, Zvonimir Šipuš, Yuxin Liu, John S. Y. Ho, together with the engineering and technical teams of the partner laboratories.

Experimental and extended collaborations: the PEGASE research unit of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, the Technical University of Vienna, Stanford University and the National University of Singapore.

Selected publications

  1. Í. V. Soares, M. Gao, Z. Šipuš, A. K. Skrivervik, J. S. Ho and D. Nikolayev, “Wireless Powering Efficiency of Deep-Body Implantable Devices,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 2023.
  2. E. Cil, Í. V. Soares, D. Renaudeau, R. Lucas, S. Dumanli, R. Sauleau and D. Nikolayev, “On the Use of Impedance Detuning for Gastrointestinal Segment Tracking of Ingestible Capsules,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 2023.
  3. P. Vadher, G. Sacco and D. Nikolayev, “Meandering Microstrip Leaky-Wave Antenna with Dual-Band Linear–Circular Polarization and Suppressed Open Stopband,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 2024.
  4. D. Nikolayev, Í. V. Soares, A. Mazzinghi and A. K. Skrivervik, “Conformal Beam-Scanning Arrays: Survey, Analysis, and Benchmarking,” IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, 2025.
  5. M. Gao, D. Nikolayev, Z. Šipuš and A. K. Skrivervik, “Physical Insights and Design Principles for Efficient Wireless Implantable Bioelectronics,” Cell Reports Physical Science, 2025.
  6. Í. V. Soares, Z. Šipuš, A. K. Skrivervik, R. Sauleau, A. Alù, J. S. Ho and D. Nikolayev, “Wireless Powering for Long-Lasting Deep-Body Bioelectronic Devices,” IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, 2025.
  7. E. Cil, Í. V. Soares, R. Sauleau and D. Nikolayev, “Suitability of Common Ingestible Antennas for Multiplexed Gastrointestinal Biosensing,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 2026.
  8. P. Vadher, A. K. Skrivervik, Q. Zeng, R. Sauleau, J. S. Ho, G. Sacco and D. Nikolayev, “Frequency-Scanning Leaky-Wave Antenna for V-Band Conformal Applications,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 2026.

Books and work in progress

  • E. Cil, Í. V. Soares and D. Nikolayev, “Implantable and Ingestible Technologies,” in Energy Materials for Ingestible and Implantable Healthcare Devices, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026.
  • Í. V. Soares and D. Nikolayev, “Reconfigurable Wireless Power Transfer for Long-Lasting Deep-Body Bioelectronics,” in the same Royal Society of Chemistry volume, 2026.

What comes next?

The next steps are to complete wireless-power validation, further improve safety and reliability, and extend sensing to additional physiological signals. The methods developed in MedWave are already supporting research into longer-lasting or potentially battery-free devices for gastrointestinal diagnosis, continuous health monitoring and interaction with the nervous system.

Acknowledgements

MedWave was supported by the French National Research Agency and Singapore’s National Research Foundation. The team gratefully acknowledges both agencies and all project collaborators. The responsiveness and flexibility of the French National Research Agency were particularly valuable, allowing the consortium to adapt to organisational changes while pursuing scientific directions that went well beyond the project’s initial hypotheses.