Our Work

Medical Applications

Device Type/Name	Description
Implantable MyoElectric Sensor, or “IMES”	A Sigenics implanted device sends EMG (muscle) signals to an outside controller which controls motors in a prosthetic limb. A collection of the sensors are implanted directly next to the muscles so they sense the muscle contractions and send a radio signal to the external controller, which uses the information to control the prosthetic. This device is now in human clinical trials.
Board-Level Controller with DSP to Drive Motors in a Prosthetic Limb	This external controller uses IMES data to drive the motors in the prosthesis. The end result is to create more natural prostheses that move with more degrees of freedom and are controlled by the signals from the user’s muscles.
Cortical Visual Prosthesis	Video from an external camera is processed to produce a series of stimulation commands. These commands are sent wirelessly to an implanted device which stimulates electrodes inserted into the visual cortex of the brain to create the perception of spots of light, which are perceived by the user as an image.
Retinal Stimulator	This is another type of visual prosthesis. Electrical impulses directly stimulate nerves in the retina, bypassing the need for photoreceptors to produce images. Applications include improving the vision of those affected by macular degeneration.
Implantable Nerve Stimulator for Cluster Headache Treatment	This small wireless device is implanted under the cheekbone to stimulate the trigeminal nerve and eliminate or drastically reduce migraine headaches, and is now in human clinical trials.
Board-Level Electrocautery Device	This device contains Sigenics’ ASICs to seal varicose veins using a high-energy electrical impulse.
EKG (Electrocardiogram) Signal Processing Front-End ASIC	This implanted chip amplifies and processes the heart’s electrical signals to detect potentially harmful fibrillations.
DNA Microarray Chip	A sample on a piece of silicon “litmus paper” containing up to 100,000 different desired DNA sequences is applied to the surface of this chip, and the DNA sequences of the sample that match the sequences on the chip are detected. This allows specific DNA sequences to be determined in patients.
Telemetry Receiver	Designed specifically to support Sigenics’ biotelemetry research, this 65-kilohertz tuned RF receiver chip accepts backscatter telemetry from Sigenics’ implanted devices. Applications include implantable EMG sensors, wireless EKGs, and passive or active RFID tag read front ends.

Industrial, Military, & Aerospace Applications

Device Type/Name	Description
Mil-Std 883 Screened ASIC Devices	Sigenics designs and delivers a considerable annual quantity of custom devices used in military and commercial aircraft communications equipment.
Foveated Vision CMOS Imaging Array ASIC for NASA	This camera for a satellite can scan a large area in a short amount of time and thus rapidly obtain detailed pictures of a partial field-of-view.
S5800 Class E Controller Chip	We designed this device for our own use in supporting our medical telemetry projects. This resonant power converter controller IC chip generates a high-intensity magnetic field to transfer power and data wirelessly. This chip operates at a very high efficiency, and is capable of generating several amperes and hundreds of volts on an exciter coil. Sigenics originally developed this power management chip to wirelessly power its implantable medical devices. There are additional commercial applications for the wireless power including magnetically powered passive medical implant, RFID transponder readers, battery chargers, and short range magnetic data communications. For more information, refer to the Data Sheet.
High-Voltage Micromirror Driver	Special design techniques were used to develop this chip, which drives the micromirrors in a DLP video display.
Large Channel Count LCD Driver for a Plain-Paper Display	Plain-paper displays are used in devices such as ebooks.
LED Backlight Power Controller	This power converter chip allows a low voltage battery to light up the screen of a mobile device.
Pin for Pin Replacements	One of Sigenics’ premier services is the replacement of obsolete chips. This saves the customer the trouble of redesigning and requalifying his entire system. Sigenics has done pin for pin replacement for a high-frequency amplifier made on the obsolete AT&T/Lucent CBIC-V2 process. We also designed a pin for pin replacement for an obsolete military audio mixer originally fabricated on a now-obsolete 1974 Hughes process.
RFID Transponder chip	This chip is implanted behind the ear of livestock or pets so that they may be tracked with an electronic serial number.
Nanopower Security Chip	Sigenics designed this chip to detect package intrusion into classified electronics packages. When a package with the security chip is tampered with, the chip utilizes the energy in the battery of the package of detonate a small explosive charge to destroy the classified electronics within. The chip runs continuously for multiple years to protect the integrity of classified material.
High-Speed CMOS Imaging Array (Camera)	This camera imaging chip was fabricated on a Chinese process for an industrial customer.
Float Sensor Chip	This chip allows a wireless process control device to monitor the levels of oil or corrosive material in a storage tank.