A polymer-based Chronic Nerve Interface Microelectrode Array
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A polymer-based Chronic Nerve Interface Microelectrode Array Brian Farrell1, Linas Jauniskis1, Thomas Phely-Bobin1, Richard Streeter1, David Edell2, and Robert Dean3 1 Materials Technology, Foster-Miller, Inc., 195 Bear Hill Road, Waltham, MA, 02451 2 InnerSea Technology, 1 DeAngelo Drive, Bedford, MA, 01730 3 Auburn University, 200 Broun Hall, Auburn, AL, 36830
ABSTRACT Foster-Miller, in collaboration with InnerSea Technology, has been developing the fabrication and assembly processes for mass-produced, inexpensive polymer-based microelectrode arrays with integral interconnects and conditioning/telemetry electronics. Our approach is based on the application of Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) substrates, a novel, dimensionally stable and biocompatible material that can be patterned and assembled using planar technology manufacturing processes. LCP, when processed into thin, isotropic sheets, is a near ideal substrate material for nerve implants. This material can be processed in similar fashion to printed circuit boards and semiconductor wafers using photolithographic methods. Development of LCP-based microelectrode arrays will enable expansion of existing research programs, and allow many research groups to contribute to the development of new neural prosthesis devices based on this promising materials platform. INTRODUCTION Neural electrodes (1-4) are essential laboratory tools for neurophysiologists studying the behavior of single neurons and populations of neurons in brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve. Neurophysiologists are moving beyond single electrode recordings in anesthetized animals to multichannel recordings in awake, behaving animals to continue learning how the nervous system works. Neural electrodes are also useful clinical tools. Intra-cochlear stimulating electrodes are frequently used to produce prosthetic sound for deafness caused by hair cell damage. Implanted surface and penetrating brain electrodes are commonly used in mapping foci of epilepsy. Epidural stimulation electrode arrays over the motor cortex or spinal cord are used for suppression of chronic pain. Deep brain stimulation electrode arrays are used for longterm suppression of the tremors of Parkinson’s disease. Neural electrodes are currently fabricated from small, insulated wires or are micromachined from silicon. Wire and micromachined electrode technologies have shortcomings that the proposed work may address. Wire based electrodes are reliable, but are difficult to place with precision. Further, the large number of wires necessary for some applications can cause excessive neural damage. Micromachined silicon arrays can be used to precisely locate micro-contacts in
neural tissue relative to each other but they are stiff. Stiffness allows silicon arrays to be readily inserted into neural tissue, but stiffness does not allow movement with the tissues as the tissue expands or contracts. The result is either the electrode migrates, or there is a proliferation of glial scar about the microelectrode shafts. Also, both m
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