MedTech: Shrinking the Future: The Challenge and Opportunity of Miniaturising Implantable Pulse Generators

The drive to reduce the size of implantable pulse generators (IPGs) is opening new avenues for innovation in neurostimulation. As interest in therapies like deep brain and spinal cord stimulation grows, so too does the demand for smaller, less intrusive devices that improve patient comfort, enable broader implant sites, and reduce surgical risks.

This shift puts pressure on engineers to rethink every component of an IPG — starting with the battery, often the largest part. Reducing power consumption through smart electronics design and efficient waveforms can shrink battery requirements, while rechargeable or even externally powered systems can dramatically reduce implant size. However, these shifts bring new challenges: ensuring power reliability, secure communications, and patient usability, especially when devices require wearable components.

Figure 1: From left to right a, primary cell, rechargeable, and externally powered IPG showing relative sizes

To achieve true miniaturisation, the entire system — electronics, mechanical packaging, and inductive links — must be co-optimised. With custom ASICs, system-on-package electronics, and reimagined mechanical design, next-gen IPGs are poised to become smaller, smarter, and more adaptable than ever before.

Read the full article to explore the technical trade-offs, real-world patient considerations, and engineering innovations — from wireless charging to 3D packaging — that are redefining the limits of IPG design.

Why TTP?

TTP have the multi-disciplinary expertise to develop the next generation of Implantable Pulse Generators (IPGs), designed for low power and small size, bringing together a bottom-up understanding of the fundamental circuits with a holistic approach to the product requirements and packaging design. This multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach enables the tight integration of optimised sub-systems and, ultimately, the optimum IPG design for a given application and use case.

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