Recording of Neural Activity From Sensory Cortex Using Silicon Based, Three Dimensional Electrode Arrays

一个人四肢的随意运动是由大脑输出部分运动皮质神经元的电活动控制的。四肢瘫痪患者的脊髓受损，但运动皮质功能完全正常。这种植入运动皮质的电极阵列可以用来记录这些神经元的电活动。然后，电极阵列可以提供大量的信号，这些信号可以控制功能强大的神经肌肉系统或外部机械设备(轮椅、假肢等)。在这种应用中可以使用三维电极阵列。该阵列由单晶硅构成，包含100个针状电极，这些电极从4 mm x 4 mm的衬底上突出。每个磨尖的电极长1.5毫米，底部直径约80微米。该硅电极阵列的修改被用于在CAT中进行一组实验，1)以证明这种电极阵列能够记录皮质神经活动，以及2)优化电极的电特性，使得它们可以提供单个单元或单元簇神经活动的最大隔离。

The volitional movement of ones limbs is commanded by electrical activity in the neurons of the motor cortex, the output part of the brain. In quadriplegia, the spinal cord is damaged, but the motor cortex is perfectly functional. This array of electrodes, implanted into motor cortex could be used to record the electrical activity of these neurons. The electrode array could then provide large numbers of signals which could control functional neuromuscular systems or external mechanical devices (wheelchairs, artificial limbs, etc.). A three dimensional electrode array could be used in this application. The array is constructed from monocrystaline silicon and contains 100 needle shaped electrodes which protrude from a 4mm x 4mm substrate. Each sharpened electrode is 1.5mm in length and is about 80 microns in diameter at its base. A modification of this silicon electrode array is used to conduct a set of experiments in cats 1) to demonstrate that such an array of electrodes is capable of recording cortical neural activity and 2) to optimize the electrical properties of the electrodes such that they can provide the greatest isolation of single unit or unit cluster neural activity.