The Material-Tissue Interface is Key to Bioelectronic Implant Performance

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Thomas Stieglitz
• Wednesday 07 September 2022, 16:00-17:00
• Cambridge Graphene Centre Seminar Room.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Kirsty Shepherd.

Neural interfaces form the material-tissue interface between electronic and biological circuits and systems. They must provide stable and reliable functional interfaces to the target structure in chronic implantations both in neuroscience experiments and especially in human clinical applications. Proper selection of substrate, insulation, and electrode materials is of paramount importance. In addition, aspects such as size, thickness, and shape contribute significantly to structural biocompatibility. To establish intimate contact with neural targets, minimize post-implantation foreign body reaction, and maintain functionality throughout the implantation period, a comprehensive set of design parameters must be considered. Our work focused on polyimide as the substrate and insulating material with integrated thin film metallization as the conductor in our flexible neural interface approach. Iridium oxide, carbon, and PEDOT serve as electrode coatings, depending on the intended electrode size and application. The scientific goal is not to compete for the smallest neural probes, but to balance size, stability, and usability for each individual animal model and neural target area. This trade-off increases robustness in handling and improves translation of developments to daily use in neuroscience laboratories and implementation in first-in-human studies to investigate new research hypotheses. Data from long-term aging studies and chronic experiments demonstrate the applicability and reliability of thin-film implants for stimulation and recording studies. Assembling systems and connecting microsystems with robust cables and connectors remains a major challenge in both chronic preclinical and clinical studies. Results are shared on reliability, cross-talk and failure modes. Results are encouraging to continue the translational research path from basic studies to the first human clinical trials, which are necessary to prove that new materials, technologies and devices are applicable in clinical applications and can eventually be translated into an approved medical device.

This talk is part of the Electrical Engineering series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Cambridge Graphene Centre Seminar Room
• Electrical Engineering

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.